JERSEY’S badminton team lost their opening group match today 4-1 against the might of Canada.

The Island’s sole win was recorded in the women’s singles by Elizabeth Cann, formerly National champion, with a nail-biting 21-15, 21-19 success against Anna Rice.

Jersey were expecting a difficult start to their tough group and they certainly got it with defeats in four of their five rubbers.

Clive Dunford and Lucy Burns were beaten 21-10, 21-8 by William Milroy and Tamara Sun in the mixed doubles while Cann and Solenn Pasturel narrowly lost the first 21-18, to Charmaine Reid and Helen Nichol, before going down 21-7 in the next.

Canada’s Andrew Dubaka proved too strong for Jersey’s Gavin Carter in the men’s singles, winning 21-5, 21-9, while Carter was also on the receiving end in the men’s doubles, partnered by Clive Dunford, where they were beaten 21-13, 21-8 by Michael Beres and Philippe Bourret.

Jersey are back on the courts of the Melbourne Conference Centre tomorrow morning where they face Singapore, the latter who reached the team final in the last Games in Manchester.

South Africa and Mauritius are also in Jersey’s group.