GB Doubles Pair Out

By John Stratford, 30th July 2012, 11:37

Team GB badminton player Chris Adcock says he's "absolutely gutted" he and partner Imogen Bankier - who train in Milton Keynes - are out of the mixed doubles.

The duo lost two of their group matches in the tournament at Wembley Arena on Saturday 28 July and Sunday 29 July 2012.

The Anglo-Scottish pair, who train at the Milton Keynes National Badminton Centre, had entered their first Olympics with high hopes after reaching the World Championship final at the same venue last year.

But while the world number 10s fed off the support of the vociferous home crowd to establish an early lead, they were unable to maintain momentum in their second outing at the Games.

The outcome rendered their final group match against top seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei on Tuesday 31 July meaningless in terms of the competition.

Adcock said: "We got a good start again but absolutely gutted - really disappointed.

"We did everything we could but that's the Olympic Games, it can be tough.

"Devastated, obviously. We lost winnable games. We worked so hard to get here.

"But we've got one more game and we want to repay the crowd who have supported us with a win.''

The loss came early in the morning and at that point there was still a theoretical chance of progress depending on other results in the group.

That was extinguished early in the afternoon session as Zhang and Zhao overcame Nikolaenko and Sorokina 21-9 21-18.

An upset Bankier said: "We came into the tournament in the best shape of our lives but faced two difficult opponents.

"Everybody wants to do well. We started well but couldn't keep the momentum. Unfortunately we couldn't come back.''

Adcock and Bankier looked quick and strong early on against the Germans but they could not adapt when their world number 22 opponents slowed the pace.

Michels started to control more rallies and although the Britons showed some resilience early in the third game, the Germans edged away.

Adcock was at a loss to explain how he and Bankier allowed what became a 62-minute contest to slip from their grasp.

The 23-year-old said: "I don't know, maybe it is something we need to look at.

"We started brilliantly in the first two games and then not got off to good starts in the seconds.

"Maybe it is our tactics, maybe it is theirs.

"They managed to grind back into it and get their rhythm. I'm gutted, obviously."