Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms beat Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg today in an all-English mixed doubles final at the World Championships in Spain.
Robertson and Emms had to dig deep in their semis to see off Thai pair Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongka 21-18 17-21 25-23 which was a nailbiter I assure you.

I am very pleased for Emmss and Roberstson, they are great players (she arguably the best at the net in the game) and although Commonwealth Champs they have missed out on the World adn Olympic titles so far. They are likely to retire after Beijing so good luck to them in that and well done in bringing home the World Crown to Britiain after I think 32 years!

:clap: :clap: :clap:

I can't find the stats etc. but I think the final itself was historic as it was the first time Britain had won Silver and Gold at this event, so well doen Clark and Kellogg for that. :ok: Clark also joined forces with Robert Blair to reach the final of the men's doubles :clap:

Well done to the Brits, World Class performances! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

Hey SB! :hug:

Am watching the finals right now! Also caught the semis yesterday. Left a message on heyupp! about the finals today earlier on.

The semi was nerve-racking, wasn't it! Looks like Gail and Nathan pretty much steam-rollered their way to victory today, and it was clear that they had a gameplan for victory.

historic stuff indeed, but I wonder once again that it might not get much exposure.. (checks bbc site) ah yes.. golf is taking precendence.. :blush:

Hey Petalp, glad to see you are interested in the badders! :D
I watched the final, it was nto very exciting as Emms/Robertson steamrollered the other two but I am so glad those pair fianlly won this. I do liek badminton, I used to play it but not very well! I stopped when me and my mates were refused entry to Bbrunel university badminton club on the gorund sthat we were nto good enough and also I think nto of Chinese appearance! Sorry but all the members were and they wer eknown to be quite a clos eknit and exclusive group of people. We just used to do it cos it cost 50p for an hours' excercise and was fun. They took ti serious though. We said we woudl tno expect to eb in tournies and were prepared to be taught but they said no. And to make it worse they used to shout abuse form the viewing balcony as we played, and it kind of put us off. roflmao

Yes I hope those two do well in the Olympics then they will have all 3 titles. I discovered that Nathan is from Nottignham also, and the other pair were from Derby! Although Emms is form Hitchin it was a bit of an East Midlands Derby eh? :D Do you knwo if the men's double shas bene played yet? It's mens singles final now.

Hey SB..

Yay! We had an East Mids derby going on in a world-class event..! :ok: and not forgetting that Loughbrough has all sorts of world class sports things going on too. I think that sometimes when people bang on about the north/ south divide, they often overlook the fact that there are a few things going on in the midlands as well..

I think that the men's final has just finished, which was more of a contest than the mixed. I don't think that the men's doubles has been on yet, nor the ladies' singles. I think that the ladies' match is on next, followed by the men's doubles..

Oh I love badminton too.. shame that the club that you went to seemed so exclusive.. :( Abuse from the balcony? :yikes: That really is out of order, poor form. I have two badminton buddies too, but they have now relocated, and the racquet has been gathering dust over the last few months. so need to rectify that.. It's often a more inclusive sport than tennis as I think that badminton is easier to play on at least a rudimentary level. The way that the pro's play is spectacularly good, I think... :bow:

Oh, I love badminton at the olympics, esp as it's shown on TV so rarely. Bejing will be fantastic as the Chinese players will be desperate to win on home soil and will make for some great matches.. I hope!

It's been a real treat to watch it this weekend, I have to say.. :) :ok:

Yes they do make t look easy too don't they? :bow: yes watching women's now and it is quite close. There is a lot of good stuf fup in the midlans I agree, and it is often overlooked. In Nottingham they have Home Pierpont the Watersports Centre, and I think they were going to use it a a previous Olympics but the bid failed. I hope they us eit in this one, but I doubt it as I hear they are building all new at great expense. :angry:

Enjoying the women's singles as well.. both players are soo elegant. I'm wanting Zhang Ning to win, but Xie Xingfang has just taken the opening set, and has taken a 4-0 lead in the second as well..

Yes I can't see her cacthgin up, I reckon Xie is too strong .

She certainly has a stronger array of attacking strokes.. her smash down the line is really impressive... :bow:

I love Zhang's netplay though.. she has the ability to hit the shuttle so that it rotates, making it harder for the opponent to control their return shot..

Re: Men's doubles: I think that Clark and Blair have their work cut out here.. the Chinese pair have broken the 200mph barrier with some of their smashes!! :o