Hometown favourite Adcocks determined to offset past disappointment at YONEX All England
BySportsbeat
Published 17/02/2019 at 17:11 GMT
Double Commonwealth gold medallist Gabby Adcock is desperate to right past wrongs when she teams up with husband Chris at the upcoming YONEX All England Championships.
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The mixed doubles duo, who have two European titles and a BWF World Championships bronze medal to their names, have come close on several occasions, but never left the Arena Birmingham with the ultimate prize.
And there was no instance more agonising than their semi-final defeat to Chinese pair Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong at the championships two years ago.
"That was the worst - but also it brings good memories being so close to such a massive win, recalls Adcock.
"We had a match point for a place final against a Chinese pair and Chris broke his strings.
"When you break a string in your racket you literally can't control where the shuttle goes.
"It was so unlucky for us to lose that match because I feel like it's probably one of the best games of badminton that we've played, and to do that in front of our home crowd was a special feeling, but a real tough one to take for a long time."
The Adcocks, currently ranked seventh in the world, will bid to replicate the feat of compatriots Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms – the last British winners at the All England when they claimed the crown in 2005.
And for Leeds native Gabby, there is no shying away from expectations when the world's oldest and most prestigious tournament rolls around.
"We feel like it's coming," added Adcock, who will compete alongside Olympic and World champions and legends of the game, as they compete over five days for a $1 million and trophies that are prized more than Olympic gold.
"We've got a few weeks, but we feel well on our way. It's nice to be at home and really be able to focus on All England.
"The YONEX All England is so special for us. It's the one that everybody wants to win.
"For us it's all that more special because we don't get many tournaments in England that we can showcase Badminton, so for us to step out in front of a home crowd gives us Goosebumps all year.
"I'm sure when it comes to it we'll be sharp, we'll be physically in good condition - as we always have been in the past. We'll be more excited to be there.
"Of course; we wouldn't be playing it if we didn't feel that we could win it."
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