Bronze for Linda

A WEEK before the start of the tournament, after being condemned to the toughest half of both the singles and doubles draws, Heathfield ace Linda Charman had her sights set on a Commonwealth Games medal of any description.

The 30-year old world number six achieved her goal by claiming a marvellous bronze medal in the doubles event, but, after a heartbreaking semi-final exit, Linda knows that a gold or silver medal was within her grasp.

Linda and her partner Fiona Geaves performed superbly to scupper the bid of Aussie duo Sarah Fitzgerald and Liz Irving in the quarter finals in front of a packed gallery in Manchester, but their dreams of gold were dashed when, after squandering two match points, they were beaten 17-15 by fellow English duo Cassie Jackman and Tanya Bailey in the last four.

'We couldn't have been more unlucky with the draw, but we pushed Cassie and Tanya all the way,' said Linda.

'We went 1-0 down but pulled back level and then found ourselves 14-12 up in the final set, but we just couldn't finish it off.

'We proved we were just as good as them but we were bitterly disappointed not to be in the mix for a silver or gold medal.

'The atmosphere was more subdued in the semi-final because there were two English pairs and the crowd didn't want to be partisan against either team. But in the quarter finals against the Australians the atmosphere was electric because obviously they're one of our biggest sporting rivals.'

Linda's bid for the singles crown ended in defeat at the quarter-final stage last Monday against Cassie Jackman.

As the fifth seed, Linda was always going to face a tough test against one of the world's top four at the last eight stage, but she pushed Cassie to a final set before eventually going down 3-2.

'I beat Natalie Grinham, who's a really dangerous player, in the last 16, 9-7, 9-1, 9-1, which gave me a lot of confidence, but Cassie was just a bit too good,' added Linda.

'If I'd taken Cassie to a fifth set in a normal tournament and played as well as I did, then I'd have been really proud, but when there's a Commonwealth Games medal on the line then it's heartbreaking.'

Linda received her doubles bronze medal just before the closing ceremony on Sunday, and revelled in the magnificent atmosphere generated by Manchester's sporting fans.

'The organisation was absolutely faultless. The food and the atmosphere both around the athletes village and in the stadium was spot on.

'Being English, I really wanted people from other nations to come over and really enjoy the occasion and I think everyone did.

'The atmosphere for me was better than my first Games in Kuala Lumpar and, having not won a medal four years ago, I accomplished what I wanted to here in Manchester.

'If I'm still playing well in two or three years time then I'll definitely be aiming for another Commonwealth Games appearance in 2006.'