Badminton: Robertson retires after stellar career

Nathan Robertson, one of Britain’s greatest-ever badminton players, has announced his retirement.

The 35-year-old, an Olympic silver medallist alongside Gail Emms eight years ago, has made the decision following his failure to qualify for London 2012.

“Thank you to everyone who supported and helped me throughout my entire career,” Robertson revealed on Twitter. “I now look forward to a summer of rest and retirement celebration.”

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Robertson’s announcement is not a surprise as he had always intended to bow out on a high after this summer’s Olympics. But after choosing to focus on mixed doubles only, his hopes of competing in London with new partner Jenny Wallwork were crushed by the rise of youngsters Chris Adcock and Scotland’s Imogen Bankier. The British Olympic Association confirmed last week that Adcock and Bankier, last year’s World Championships runners-up, would represent Team GB.

Robertson will be best remembered for his formidable mixed doubles partnership with Emms. As well as claiming silver at Athens in 2004, Robertson and Emms won the All England Championship in 2005 and World Championship and Commonwealth Games titles in 2006.