Chloe Magee’s Rio adventure is over after she fell to a second Group P defeat against experienced German Karin Schnaase.
The Raphoe badminton star was up against it as she faced Schnaase, who is 50 places above the 27-year-old in the world rankings.
Donegal now have two hopes of a medal left at the Olympic Games with both walker Brendan Boyce and runner Mark English still in the hunt.
But for Magee, two straight defeats means that her dream of causing an upset in what is a hugely competitive sport.
Magee was 15-5 down in the opening game when her opponent overstretched her knee and looked in some discomfort. That injury scare unsettled Schnaase, and Magee began to grow in confidence.
She closed the gap to five points at one stage but Schnaase always looked comfortable with that healthy cushion and she eventually closed out the set 21-14.
Magee made a much better start to the second game, which was nip and tuck throughout. The Irish woman took the lead, 17-16, and looked like she would force a third set.
However Schnaase hit back, surging to a 20-18 lead and closing out the set – and the match – 21-19 to end Magee’s Olympics.
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