European Championships: Rajiv Ouseph progresses to final

England's Rajiv Ouseph progressed to the men's singles final of the European Championships in Kazan, Russia for the first time in his career.

Fifth seed Ouseph, who won European bronze four years ago in Manchester, defeated Russian Vladimir Ivanov 25-23 13-21 21-8.

Ouseph faces Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen or Viktor Axelsen for gold on Sunday.

Victory for the 27-year-old will secure England's first European men's singles title since 1990.

Ouseph told Badminton Europe TV: "I knew it was going to be tough. Ivanov has been flying this week.

"But I got my game plan right in the first and third games. I knew I had to match him for speed if I was to come through."

England's men's doubles pair of Chris Adcock and Andrew Ellis, who took third place two years ago, won bronze after defeat in the semi-finals.

The second seeds lost 21-16, 19-21 21-8 to Norway's fourth seeds Mads Conrad-Petersen and Mads Pieler Kolding.

Scotland's Imogen Bankier also had to settle for bronze after she and Belarusian doubles partner Petya Nedelcheva lost 12-21 21-13 21-7 to top seeds Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl in the semi-finals.