Royal approval helps Adcocks seek a repeat
PROUD Leeds badminton star Gabby Adcock hopes to become a double Commonwealth Games champion on the Gold Coast of Australia.
Adcock and her husband Chris Adcock secured gold in the mixed doubles at the Glasgow Commonwealths in 2014 and the duo now return to defend their title as World Championship bronze medallists.
The Adcocks enjoyed their best ever World Championships when taking bronze last year and 27-year-old Gabby is now hopeful of landing her second gold at what will be her third Commonwealth Games.
The Leeds smasher also bagged a bronze in the mixed team event at Delhi 2010 as part of a team that included her husband plus fellow Leeds star Jenny Wallwork.
“I feel really proud and honoured to be able to represent Team England again at another Commonwealth Games,” said Adcock
“We met HRH Prince Andrew (patron of Badminton England) which was an absolute honour for us all.
“He sent the whole team off with his best wishes which was amazing. I really can’t wait to hopefully go and defend my title in Australia.”
England will be represented by a team of ten on the badminton front with the Adcocks joined by Huddersfield’s Marcus Ellis at what will be the 28-year-old’s first Commonwealth Games.
Ellis and Chris Langridge secured a fine bronze medal in the men’s doubles at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the Yorkshireman now hopes to add a Commonwealths medal to his growing collection.
Langridge already has three Commonwealth medals under his belt having won silvers in both the mixed doubles and mixed team events at Glasgow 2014 as well as bronze in the men’s doubles alongside Peter Mills.
“I am really, really happy to be selected,” said Yorkshire’s Ellis.
“It is always a great honour to represent your country in any event, but at a multi-sports event like the Commonwealth Games, it is a real honour. I will be making my debut at the Commonwealths, so it is something new and exciting for me.”
Another of England’s leading hopes will be European champion Rajiv Ouseph who, like the Adcocks, will be competing in his third Commonwealths.
Competition in the badminton begins with the mixed team event which starts on Thursday and ends a week on Monday.
The men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles then begin a week on Monday with the gold medal matches in all events taking place on Sunday, April 15.