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NATIONALS 07 ENTRIES |
Robertson & Emms,
National & World Champions
Nick Kidd
Hallam still injured
Emms & Kellogg aim for another |
23-Jan-07:
World champions top big entry for Nationals in Manchester
William Kings reports
NEARLY 150 players from 25 counties have entered the English
National Championships at The Velodrome in Manchester's Sportcity
from February 2-4 - and Bolton's golden oldie Chris Hunt is
among them.
All five medallists at the World Championships in Madrid last
September will also be there with world and Commonwealth mixed
doubles champions Nathan Robertson (Notts) and Gail Emms
(Herts) back to defend their English National title. The England
pair finished runners-up at the Malaysia Open on Sunday and now
tackle this week's Korean Open in Seoul.
Emms will be chasing a seventh mixed doubles title and her fifth
with Robertson. She will be also aiming for a sixth women's doubles
crown with European title winning partner Donna Kellogg. They
will be clear favourites to retain that title.
Kellogg (Derbyshire) and Anthony Clark (Notts) were
runners-up to Robertson and Emms at the World Championships just as
they were at least year's English Nationals and will be one of their
main challengers. But Robertson is bidding to win his fifth mixed
title to go with his five men's doubles titles - although he now
only plays mixed.
Clark and Robert Blair (Leics), the World runners-up in men's
doubles, will be looking to retain their title. Clark is bidding for
a sixth consecutive men's title, having won three times with
Robertson, once with Simon Archer (Worcs) and once with
Blair.
Archer, who retired from international badminton in the summer, is
teaming up with Lancashire's Hunt one last time. Archer, 33, and
Hunt, 38, won the men's doubles six times in a row in the 1990s and
Archer went on to win nine men's doubles titles and six mixed
titles. Hunt has a new title to his name - Dad, after his partner
Liza gave birth to a little girl last week.
The men's singles is wide open with World No 17 Andrew Smith (Hants)
not entering. Defending champion Nick Kidd (Bucks) will be up
against twice former champion and last year's beaten finalist
Aamir Ghaffar (Middx) while Grand Finals winner Rajiv Ouseph
(Middx) and runner-up Nathan Rice (Bucks) will be in
contention along with Canadian Open winner Toby Honey
(Surrey).
The women's singles will also be up for grabs in the absence of
Commonwealth gold medallist and defending champion Tracey Hallam
(Staffs), who is still recovering from ankle surgery. Jersey's 2005
champion Elizabeth Cann, who is this year representing
Middlesex, will start favourite but last year's runner-up Jill
Pittard (Warks) along with Grand Finals winner Michelle
Cheung (Bucks) and runner-up Rachel Howard (Herts) will
also be in contention from the ranks of the rising stars.
One big danger in the draw will be 1998 finalist Rebecca Pantaney
(Gloucs), who has come out of retirement to enter. She has also
reached the semi-finals three times and has the experience to be a
danger.
The English National Championships are being staged at The Velodrome
for the fourth consecutive years thanks to the partnership between
BADMINTON England, Manchester City Council, Hi-Tec, Carlton and
badmintondiscount.com with support from the Manchester Evening News.
 "Manchester
is always seeking to build on its reputation as a world-class host
for sporting events. We are delighted to have been chosen for the
fourth consecutive year and look forward to welcoming the Nationals
back.
"It is a thrill for all badminton enthusiasts and I'm sure there
will be a great atmosphere."
Manchester City Council Executive
member for Culture and Leisure |
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The English National Championships are being staged at The Velodrome
for the fourth consecutive
year thanks to the partnership between BADMINTON England, Manchester
City Council, Hi-Tec,
Carlton and badmintondiscount.com with support from the Manchester
Evening News. |
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