Head coach Wright targets Sudirman success

ENGLAND head coach Ian Wright insists his side will be gunning for gold at the Sudirman Cup next month, after naming his 11-strong team.

For Great Britain, who picked up bronze last time out in Glasgow in 2007, there are seven surviving members including former Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson, who is just two caps short of 100.

Joining him from the 2007 squad are Anthony Clark, Robert Blair, Andrew Smith, Rajiv Ouseph, Elizabeth Cann and Donna Kellogg.

But for teenagers Chris Adcock, Gabby White, Sarah Walker and 22-year-old Jenny Wallwork it will be their first taste of the Sudirman Cup.    

England suffered disappointment at the European Team Championships in February - losing out to Denmark in the final for the second year in a row - but Wright believes it's time for Lady Luck to smile on his troops.

"We went desperately close to reaching the final in Glasgow and we were tantalisingly close to gold in Liverpool," he said.

"We know we have the players for the big occasion but this gives us the chance to bring in players like Chris, Gabby, Sarah and Jenny to experience this special Sudirman Cup atmosphere for the first time.

"We will be doing all we can to match, and perhaps, better our efforts in Glasgow but we are under no illusion about how hard that is going to be."

Matches in the group stage will feature one each of men's and women's singles and doubles and one mixed doubles.

In the knockout stages the format is the same except that the tie ends once a team secures a winning lead.