31-Jan-08:
Emms withdrawal adds perspective
Preview from Richard Eaton
The only good thing about the withdrawal of Gail Emms
from the English national championships starting tomorrow
(Friday) is that it provides another excuse for us to revel in
how much pleasure we take in her personality and achievements.
And those of her fellow Olympic silver medalist Nathan
Robertson, of course, who has been forced to abandon the
mixed doubles as well, because his normally effervescent partner
has been laid dismally low by an ugly virus she picked up during
their trips to Kuala Lumpur and Seoul during the past fortnight.
 “I
don’t know what it is exactly,” Emms said. “But it’s viral. I
tried to leave it as late as possible before making a decision,
but it’s very frustrating.
“When you’ve been training and practising so much you just want
to get on court, and when you have to pull out you just think……ooooooooh!!”
she said, or rather she groaned, somehow managing to create a
hint of humour from her depressing predicament.
“I felt it first after playing the semi-finals in Malaysia when
I ended the match with a massive headache. I thought perhaps I’m
dazed and emotional and I would be all right.
“But I haven’t got better and it’s a pity because we played
really well in Malaysia and Nathan is playing great again.”
At least she is no stranger to such setbacks. Four years ago
Emms was forced to withdraw from the nationals with injury,
although the timing of this setback is arguably a bigger blow.
It may even mean that she has already played her last nationals
- if she sticks to her plan to retire after trying to win an
Olympic gold medal with Robertson at the Beijing Games in
August.
It also means that hopes of a repeat of Emms’ and Robertson’s
world final in 2006 against Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg
– one of the high points in the history of English badminton -
may remain indefinitely unfulfilled.
Clark and Kellogg, who brilliantly beat the then world champions
in last year’s national final, have now become hot favourites to
make a successful defence and may find themselves facing
surprise finalists on Sunday.
That’s because there has been no reshuffle of the seeds in the
absence of Robertson and Emms, with George Bevan of Avon
and Caroline Smith of Leicestershire becoming the lucky
pair who are not only promoted from the reserve list to replace
the stars but are now sitting atop the draw.
The greatest beneficiaries could be Robin Middleton and Lisa
Smith, who are now the only seeds left in the top half. They
may though have a tough time getting past Kristian Roebuck
and Jenny Wallwork, two talented England internationals.
But there’s more to the viral calamity. Emms was also top seed
in the women’s doubles, with her fellow European champion
Kellogg, so this event too has lost its best known pair.
Kellogg may not pull out. At the time of writing she was seeking
a replacement partner for Emms and her name remained in the
draw. But the new favourites seem likely to be the second seeded
Natalie Munt and Jo Nicholas.
Robertson and Emms will be keeping their fingers crossed that,
with the All-England little more than a month away, and the
Olympic qualifying period building up to its April climax, she
makes a steady recovery.
Fortunately Robertson, the most talented player of his
generation will still be gracing the tournament over the next
three days. He has renewed the outstanding men's doubles
partnership with Anthony Clark which once won European a
silver medal and they are the very dangerous-looking second
seeds.
This could make for a final with hidden eddies because Robertson
and Clark are scheduled for a final against the man with whom
Clark holds the title and also won a world silver medal,
Robert Blair. Their combo unexpectedly split a few months
ago and David Lindley is the man with whom Blair is
trying to make a new mark.
Whilst much of the public will be fascinated to see the skills
of these well known doubles players competing at versions of the
game which are still most commonplace in clubs, national coaches
may have a fiercer focus elsewhere.
The emphasis in Badminton England is now on developing singles
players, especially with the London 2012 Olympics little more
than four years away. This has been an area in which England has
been far less strong for almost three decades and never more so
than now.
Hence there will be supportive interest in the progress of
Rajiv Ouseph, the 21-year-old top seed in the men’s singles
who could progress to a final with Nathan Rice, the
25-year-old second seed who may be on the verge of making a
Thomas Cup debut later in February.
Among several other potential contenders are two former
champions, Mark Constable and Aamir Ghaffar – who
says he has been training hard and intends to win back the title
- and two improvers, Alex Marritt and Neil White.
The women’s event may develop a good rivalry. The defending
champion is Elizabeth Cann, the Middlesex-based Jersey
player who has won it twice, but the top seed is Tracey
Hallam, the Commonwealth champion who has made a fine
recovery from a foot injury which a year ago was threatening her
career, and who also has won it twice.
For Hallam to regain the title and win it for a third time at
the age of almost 33 would be a fine and fitting achievement for
the only world class singles player this country has had in
recent years.
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Gallery #1, the night before
Friday 1st
February 2008
10.00am - 10.00pm :
1st & 2nd Rounds
Saturday 2nd February 2008
Session 1:
10.00am - 4.30pm :
All Quarter Finals
Session 2:
5.30pm - 10.00pm :
All Semi Finals
Sunday 3rd
February 2008
Manchester Junior Event at 1.00pm
Championships Finals from 2.00pm
Action Photos
by
SportPictures.co.uk
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