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Team GB badminton duo Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis into doubles semi-finals

Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge
Image: Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge embrace after securing a semi-final berth

British duo Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis are through to the semi-finals of the men’s badminton doubles after they defeated Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa.

Langridge and Ellis, ranked No 22 in the world, have put together a stunning run of results and they stormed into the last-four with a 21-19 21-17 victory.

That followed Friday's equally impressive defeat of South Korea's third-ranked pair of Kim Gi-jung and Kim Sa-rang that helped them edge into the knockout rounds.

"I know it sounds silly, it's an insane feeling (and) I can't put it into words," said Langridge, who won two silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"If you had said before we came here that we would be in the semis, I would have bitten your hand off.

"We are absolutely delighted but it doesn't feel real yet. It feels like we're dreaming."

Rajiv Ouseph of Great Britain in action at the Rio Olympics
Image: Rajiv Ouseph also tasted victory on Monday

Langridge and Ellis will now face China's gold medal-winning pairing of Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan in the semis.

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Fu won the men's doubles in London with Cai Yun while Zhang teamed up with Zhao Yunlei to win the mixed doubles.

Meanwhile, fellow Briton Rajiv Ouseph also advanced later on Monday, the Londoner edging Asian champion Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia 21-13 14-21 21-16 to book a quarter-final in the men's singles against No 4 ranked Dane Viktor Axelsen.

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