10 years on from their Sudirman Cup debuts in Guangzhou,Chris and Gabby Adcock are set to add to their combined 115 England caps when they return to China for badminton’s premier world team championships next month.
The European and Commonwealth champions, well anchored in the top 10 of the world for over seven years, have been named as part of an eight-strong England squad to contend the TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup in Nanning 19-26 May.
With 67-caps for England, Chris Adcock is the most capped player in the squad and a veteran of three Sudirman Cup campaigns. The world number six pair are joined in the squad by the world tour experience of Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge– the Olympic bronze medallists and Commonwealth Games champions.
Eight time national champion Lauren Smith brings further Olympic experience; the versatile doubles specialist will look to add to her 30 England caps. Alongside the Adcocks, Smith was part of the 2015 Sudirman Cup squad that finished 9th in the world.
England’s singles challenge will be led by 2017 National Champion Toby Penty with three-time national champion Chloe Birch likely to blend women’s singles and women’s doubles duty in her position as England number one in both events.
Birch will be supported by Abigail Holden; with five caps to her name, the young lion will be on a first Asian team tour with the senior England squad.
The singles trio will each be making their Sudirman Cup debuts.
England’s combined world rankings of the squad has secured a coveted spot in the world top group and they face Denmark and six time finalists Indonesia in the opening stages (Group 1B).
The top two teams from each of four sub-group in the world top group will progress to the quarter finals and compete for the title.
31 nations have entered the world team championships and England are guaranteed a world top 12 finish. They last progressed to the knock out stages in 2007 when they reached the semi finals in Scotland.
Confirmed England squad
Chris Adcock (67 caps)
Gabby Adcock (48 caps)
Chloe Birch (21 caps)
Marcus Ellis (37 caps)
Abigail Holden (5 caps)
Chris Langridge (59 caps)
Toby Penty (23 caps)
Lauren Smith (30 caps)
The TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup will be played between 19-26 May in Nanning, China.
Courtesy of Badminton England
