Rio de Janeiro, August 7, 2016 – Canada’s Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan began their Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games campaign by beating the Netherlands’ Sophie van Gestel and Jantine van der Vlist 2-0 (21-15, 21-17) at the Copacabana Beach Arena on Sunday.
Here’s what they said after the match….
Sarah Pavan, Canada
“Our first Olympic match for both of us, there was a lot of emotion and some nerves at the beginning, but I though we handled it well. The Dutch team are a good team and we knew they would push us hard, but we stayed steady and consistent and to beat them 2-0 in our first Olympic match is fantastic.
“I was really, really excited, nervous, I was anxious, all of the typical things that the majority of people here are feeling.
“I’ve been watching some of the other matches just to get a feel of the venue and see how people were playing and to know what to expect. Neither of us had played an Olympics before and we wanted to get a good feel and to feel really comfortable and make it like home so we could just focus on the tournament.”
Sophie van Gestel, the Netherlands
“Disappointing that we lost, but I really enjoyed playing with the crowd and there were a lot of Dutch fans. It is good to be back, especially in Rio.
“It was tough. They are first in the pool and we are fourth. I think we played quite good against them, but it wasn’t the most important match. But it is good it has gone and may the nerves have dropped a little.”