Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

Coach of the two-man badminton team to the 2007 Pan American Games, Dr. Kingsley Ford, has described the experience here as great for young players Howard Martin and Emelio Mendez.

Ford, who was speaking after the players bowed out of competition early yesterday, said 24-year-old Mendez and Martin, 23, can build on the experience they gained here.

On Saturday, Martin was defeated 21-11, 21-6 in the men's singles while Mendez lost to Argentina's Santiago Bugallo 21-16, 22-20.

Yesterday they were beaten 21-9, 21-9 in the doubles by American number one seeds Howard Bach and Bob Malaythong.

"It's unfortunate that they were not able to get past the top seeds," Ford said. "What we have now, however, are two players who have gotten the experience. They did not get annihilated and they have only to build from here."

Mendez, who put up a really good fight in his round of 32 battle against the Argentinian, said the two matches here were "a learning experience".

Coach Ford said the two Calabar High graduates will now return home and train for the next competition, the world team event for the Thomas Cup, scheduled for early 2008.

The members of the badminton team here are due home on Wednesday.

IN ACTION TODAY

CYCLING

Men's sprint - Ricardo Lynch - 11:20 a.m.

FOOTBALL

Women - Jamaica vs Uruguay - Noon.

SWIMMING

Women - 50m freestyle heats - Alia Atkinson, Natasha Moodie - 5 p.m.

100m butterfly heats - Alia Atkinson - 6:25 p.m.

Men - 100m freestyle heats - Brad Hamilton - 5:13 p.m.

100m breaststroke heats - Brad Hamilton - 7:30 p.m.

TAEKWONDO

Men's Under-80kg

Round of 16 - Kenneth Edwards - 9 a.m.

NOTE: The times listed are Jamaican. Rio de Janeiro is two hours ahead.

- Elton Tucker