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Olympic bronze medal for badminton duo Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge

Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis of Great Britain celebrate after winning badminton bronze
Image: Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis of Great Britain celebrate after winning badminton bronze

Team GB's Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge have won a bronze medal in the men's doubles badminton at the Olympic Games.

The duo upset China's Wei Hong and Biao Chai, who are ranked 17 places above them in the world rankings.

Ellis and Langridge's 21-18 19-21 21-10 victory sees them become the first Britons to win a medal in the men's doubles.

The pair have been full of upsets in Rio, as earlier in the tournament they defeated South Korea's third-ranked pair of Kim Gi-jung and Kim Sa-rang.

Ellis said: "We could have easily folded following the second set after being so close to taking it. I am very proud of how we came out in the third.

"We fought our way to a good lead, and when we were 8-1 up, we could really relax and you could see they knew they had to really do something and were chasing.

Great Britain's Marcus Ellis (L) and Chris Langridge
Image: Langridge lies flat on his back as he completes a famous victory alongside Ellis

"We are not just proud of ourselves. We are proud that we've managed to do it for our sport.

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"All the guys back home can take something from what we have done.

"We are not the best in the world, but we came here and performed to our very best. On our day, we can beat anybody, and I just hope the guys back home can take inspiration from that."

The pair went through a gruelling qualifying process just to reach Rio, and Langridge added: "It is tough. It's a horrible year, because you have to play so many tournaments to qualify and there is so much pressure.

"You are away from your family and friends, you are always training and at a tournament, which you totally understand as a professional athlete, but it is just that little bit harder. I think we played something like 24 tournaments in the year.

Great Britain's Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge won a badminton bronze medal at the Olympics in Rio
Image: Langridge and Ellis were delighted with third place

"You have to do it. Everyone else is doing it, and if you don't, you miss out.

"You have to believe you are good to achieve things. Most of the time, the pressure is on our opponents, because we are lower ranked. We have enjoyed this and worked so hard as a team.

"We know there are almost no players in the world that we can't beat and we showed that in this tournament."

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