• European Badminton Championships

Adcock & Bankier better Robertson & Wallwork again

Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier came from behind to beat Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork © PA Photos

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Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier cemented their status as favourites to represent Team GB in the mixed doubles at London 2012, beating rival duo Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork once again at the European Badminton Championships on Thursday.

Only one team can go to London 2012 in the mixed doubles competition, and just as they did at the Swiss Open, Adcock and Bankier outlasted their rivals in a gruelling contest. The final score read 18-21 21-19 22-20, with the tournament's fourth seeds once again proving their class at the vital moments.

The match was almost a mirror image of that previous showdown at the Swiss Open. Back then 2004 Olympic silver medallist Robertson and Wallwork took the first set 21-19, and they edged another tight opener this time.

However, Adcock and Bankier always finish strongly and they snatched the crucial second stanza, before the decider once again went to sudden death. Robertson and Wallwork had their chances, but it was the higher-ranked team who claimed victory.

"They are extremely tough competitors and we have had a fantastic rivalry, but I don't know how we managed to make it so tough again," Bankier commented. "I started off pretty slowly. I didn't start playing until halfway through the second game.

"I thought we were dominating the third then we found ourselves 18-17 down. I suppose we started getting a bit nervous as the lead slipped away. It was hard for both of us. We have never experienced these expectations and pressures before."

It proved a good day for Adcock, who later combined with Andrew Ellis to beat third seeds Ingo Kindervater and Johannes Schoettler in the men's doubles. Once again the match lasted longer than an hour for Adcock, but he finished on the right side of a 21-17 16-21 21-19 scoreline.

Rajiv Ouseph failed to extend his stay in the men's singles competition, losing to fourth seed Marc Zwiebler of Germany. Ouseph was ousted in 40 minutes after Zwiebler chalked up a 21-15 21-19 victory.

And there was disappointment too for Heather Olver and Mariana Agathangelou, who were beaten 20-22 21-16 21-13 by second seeds Valeri Sorokina and Nina Vislova of Russia.

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