BADMINTON England today strengthened their coaching team by adding 2006 world mixed doubles champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist Gail Emms to their backroom staff.
Emms will work alongside the national coaches and draw on her playing experience to help develop England’s female doubles prospects and young mixed doubles pairs.
She brings a wealth of experience to the role. Alongside her world and Olympic success, she won European and Commonwealth gold medals as well as major international tournaments, most notably the coveted Yonex All England mixed doubles title in 2005.
Since retirement after the 2008 Olympics, she was appointed an MBE in the 2009 Birthday Honours List for her services to her sport and since then became BADMINTON England’s first official Ambassador.
Emms, 36, said: “When I look back at my career and how important coaches were to me, I really want to give something back -- and to mixed doubles in particular.
“I want to just try to help with my experience and the things I’ve learned in my playing career and try to mentor our young players. I’m here to work alongside the great coaches we have at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes and give a little bit of input.”
GB and BADMINTON England Performance Director Jens Grill said: “We are delighted to be able to draw on Gail’s experience. Everyone knows she has played badminton with great success at the highest possible level in both mixed and women’s doubles and is someone our young players can look up to and learn from. It is a great opportunity for them.
“We have engaged Gail on a short-term contract initially and her role will be to assist and support the national coaches and to share her experiences as a top player and instil in the younger squad members what it takes to get to the top.”
Article by William Kings. Photo by BadmintonPhoto.