Friday, October 1, 2010

Commonwealth Games 2010: Badminton England seeded behind Malaysia and India


Andy Wood's squad are bidding to recapture the team gold they last won in Manchester eight years ago when they beat Singapore in the Commonwealth final. Four years ago they lost 3-1 to Malaysia in the final.
England face the Falkland Islands and Uganda in their opening two matches on October 4 and if Anthony Clark plays in both matches he will join men's doubles partner Nathan Robertson in England's illustrious 100 club. Only 12 players have so far made 100 or more England appearances.

England then take on Mauritius and then fifth seeds Canada in their two remaining group matches with the top two in each of the four groups going into the quarter-finals.
The match with Canada will have special meaning for Carl Baxter, who is a late replacement for injury-plagued Andrew Smith. Baxter was born in Winnipeg.
Hosts India are drawn in the same group as Scotland and Wales and if the results go to form then England can expect to face Scotland in the quarter-finals and India in the semi-finals.
Robertson, who won the mixed doubles gold with Gail Emms four years ago, is bidding to retain his title with new partner Jenny Wallwork while also bidding for a first men's doubles gold with Clark.
In the women's singles English National champion Elizabeth Cann, who lost the bronze medal play-off for Jersey to Scotland's Susan Egelstaff four years ago, will represent England for the first time in Commonwealth Games badminton.
England’s tally includes a brace of gold medals at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms put their mixed doubles quarter-final exit at Manchester 2002 behind them to take gold in Melbourne.

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