Imogen Bankier quits international badminton at 28

Scottish doubles specialist Imogen Bankier has announced her retirement from international badminton.
Scottish doubles specialist Imogen Bankier released a statement yesterday on her decision to quit. Picture: PAScottish doubles specialist Imogen Bankier released a statement yesterday on her decision to quit. Picture: PA
Scottish doubles specialist Imogen Bankier released a statement yesterday on her decision to quit. Picture: PA

The 28-year-old was one of only four British players to compete at the London 2012 Olympics, playing mixed 
doubles alongside Chris Adcock.

Prior to that she won World Championship silver with Adcock in London in 2011 and she went on to win Commonwealth Games bronze with Robert Blair in her native Glasgow last year.

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Bankier had been exploring options outside the sport, including working in business with her father Ian, the Celtic chairman and part-owner of the Whisky Shop chain.

Bankier wrote on Twitter: “I’ve decided to announce my retirement from international badminton! Reflecting on my career with many happy memories. thank you to everyone who shared it with me. Time to move onto the next thing! #whisky.”

In a statement issued by Badminton Scotland, Bankier added: “It is not a decision I’ve taken lightly. I’ve taken almost a full year to contemplate while I’ve played a little bit and trained a little bit.

“I’ve got to the stage in my career when I’ve achieved many of the goals that I set out to achieve when I was 10 years old and decided I wanted to go down the path of playing badminton.

“I was professional for over 10-11 years. It is a long time when you are living it and I achieved so much early on and I feel like I’ve got to the stage where there’s nothing left that is really driving me forward.”

Bankier is set to open a new Whisky Shop store in Paris and Badminton Scotland chief executive Anne Smillie wished her well. Smillie said: “She is without doubt the greatest player Scotland has produced and has been a true inspiration for the next generation of players that are now emerging. We wish her every success in her new career.”

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