Badminton: Olympic stars to provide Oasis super how (From Swindon Advertiser)

Badminton: Olympic stars to provide Oasis super how

9:00am Thursday 6th November 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

HEAD coach Ian Wright is predicting plenty of fireworks tonight when England take on European rivals Poland at the Oasis Leisure Centre.

While the smoke is still settling over last night’s bonfires, badminton fans in Swindon are building themselves up for a night of explosive action on the court.

Tonight’s friendly is the first international fixture to be staged in Swindon for 27 years, and Wright expects a tight encounter.

“I am expecting some high-quality matches and it should be very close overall,” Wright told the Advertiser.

“Poland are the most improved team in Europe. They won a medal at the European Championships.

“We beat them in the semi finals but we know they will be strong. They will certainly be one of the teams to beat in Liverpool next year.

“They have a couple of players who reached the quarter finals of the Olympic Games.

“I also understand there is a big Polish community in Swindon, so that should make for a great atmosphere.”

The England team includes four players who represented Great Britain in the Olympics, namely Andrew Smith, Nathan Robertson, Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg.

European mixed doubles champions Clark & Kellogg arrive fresh from their runners-up finish at the French Open Super Series event on Sunday.

However, Wright insists supporters should watch out for the lesser-known ladies doubles pairing of Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White, both from Yorkshire.

“They have been playing in the under 19s so this a big chance to impress at senior level,’’ said Wright.

“We’ve got the European Championships coming up in February so this gives us chance to see who is playing well.

“It’s the 50th Anniversary of the Swindon & District Badminton Association so it’s nice to be able to support that organisation with such a big match.”

Matches start at 6.45pm.

Order of play

Mixed doubles: Anthony Clark (Notts) & Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire) v Michal Logosz & Malgorzata Kurdelska Men’s singles: Andrew Smith (Hants) v Przemyslaw Wacha.

Women’s singles: Elizabeth Cann (Middx) v Anna Narel Women’s doubles: Jenny Wallwork & Gabby White (both Yorks) v Malgorzata Kurdelska & Agnieszka Wojtkowska Men’s doubles: Anthony Clark & Nathan Robertson (both Notts) v Adam Cwalina & Wojciech Szkudlarcyk