Chris and Gabby Adcock targeting success at All England Open
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 07/03/16 2:33pm
Chris and Gabby Adcock are targeting rare British success at the Yonex All England Open Championships as they step up their Olympic preparations.
Great Britain has not enjoyed All England glory since 2005 but the Adcocks offer hope after a year in which they have continued to make waves at the top of the world game.
The married mixed doubles pair, who are currently ranked seventh in the world, enjoyed a career highlight last December as they triumphed at the prestigious season-ending World Superseries Finals in Dubai.
Coming after Commonwealth Games gold in 2014 and another notable Superseries win in Hong Kong the previous year, it was another victory that marked them out as serious contenders for the top prizes.
None will come bigger than the Olympics in Rio this summer, but a strong run at the All England at Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena this week, in the sport's most venerable event, would be another major statement.
"We have got All England coming up. It is a tournament we are wanting to peak for. We really want to do well there with the history behind the All England, it is almost the 'Wimbledon' of badminton," said Gabby Adcock.
"In the Superseries nobody takes anybody lightly. Everybody knows on the day anybody can beat anybody. We have been up there for a while now and we have won events before. I think we have improved and we will keep on improving and gaining experience."
Chris Adcock says the victory in Dubai, when he and his wife came through a field containing many of the world's elite pairs, has given them a big lift for the year ahead.
"It was massive, definitely our biggest career win. It was a really special moment and hopefully something we can do again. It's given us confidence for a big year going into the All England and with Rio on the horizon," he said.
