EXCLUSIVE: Emms admits she considered comeback

Posted: Wednesday 28th January 2009 | 19:38

FORMER Olympic silver medallist Gail Emms has pulled the plug on a last-minute comeback at the National Championships - because of her TV commitments.

MATTER OF TIME: Gail Emms reveals she was close to a surprise comeback just five months after announcing retirement (Getty Images)

The 31-year-old hung up her badminton racquet after a final fling with partner Nathan Robertson ended in a disappointing quarter final exit from the Beijing Olympics.

Emms has since been selected as the face to promote badminton in the UK, and has been appointed as Badminton England's first ambassador.

Budding talent Jenny Wallwork has taken on Emms' mantle as Robertson's partner but the 2006 mixed double's world champion revealed had she not already arranged to work for Channel 4 at the National Championships - a comeback was on the cards.

"I was really considering coming back this weekend and I was all set to," she said. "It was playing on my mind that it might be a bit too soon, so I suppose I was fortunate that the decision was taken out of my hands.

"I'm working there all day on Sunday doing all the interviews for Channel 4 which is going to be really strange.

"I'll know everything about all of the competitors so I could really stitch them up if I wanted to.

"I've been working a lot with the younger girls and there's still a strong competitive edge for me. I've been beating a few of the younger guys as well so I thought why not make a comeback.

"I've got fond memories of this competition, I think I won my first title on 2000 and then won nine or ten after that and it was very tempting to try and improve on that.

"I've probably made the right decision in the end but never say never."

If a return to action is not on the cards for Emms, the former European champion has plenty to occupy herself with, having just launched a new business with Robertson.

The runners-up at Athens 2004 have teamed up to provide an educational badminton master class to clubs across the country.

On top of that, she is also involved in the Premier League 4 Sport campaign, which encourages increased nationwide participation in badminton, volleyball, table tennis, judo and football.

"I'm really enjoying all the PR and media and marketing stuff that I'm doing as well as the mentoring side of things," she added.

"And Nathan and I were delighted with how the response to our business because we only did the first session last Saturday.

"I've been involved in sport for so long that it's all I really know but I don't want to just limit myself to badminton.

"I haven't been away from a badminton court for god knows how long so in the future I would definitely like to try something new.

"And with the Olympics coming up it seems like perfect timing. I'd like to think I've got something to offer to budding Olympians, so we'll just have to wait and see."

GERARD MEAGHER