European bronze medallists Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork are the only members of England’s nine-strong squad to be seeded for the Yonex BWF World Championships, starting in the Coubertin Stadium in Paris on August 23. 

The England pair go into tomorrow’s (Mon) draw as 9/16 seeds behind Indonesia’s two-time former world champions Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir and Denmark’s second seeds and defending champions Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl. 

Robertson is attempting to recapture the world title he won in 2006 with Gail Emms.  

After Paris he and Wallwork, the National champions and No. 12 in the latest world rankings, will go for gold in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, where Robertson is defending champion, having won the title with Emms four years ago in Melbourne. 

New US Open champion Rajiv Ouseph has climbed to No. 18 in the world rankings but the Middlesex man has just missed out on a men’s singles seeding spot. Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei is top seed with China’s defending champion Lin Dan only 3/4 seed.  

Lin Dan has appeared in the final at the last four World Championships, taking silver in 2005, winning the title in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and also striking Olympic gold in 2008. 

Robertson and Anthony Clark, world No 21s in men’s doubles, and Leeds pair Wallwork and Gabby White, who have climbed to No 19 in women’s doubles, also missed out on being seeded. 

England’s squad head to Copenhagen tomorrow for four days of intense preparation against the Denmark squad. 

England Squad (world rankings as of August 6):


Men’s singles:
Rajiv Ouseph (Middlesex, Age 23)                                                     World ranking 18
Carl Baxter (Avon, 24)                                                                        World ranking 30


Men’s doubles:
Nathan Robertson (Notts, 33) & Anthony Clark (Notts, 32)               World ranking 21
Robin Middleton (Yorks, 25) & Chris Langridge (Surrey, 25)            World ranking 33


Women’s doubles:
Jenny Wallwork (Yorks, 23) & Gabby White (Yorks, 19)                  World ranking 19


Mixed doubles:
Nathan Robertson & Jenny Wallwork.                                               World ranking 12
Chris Adcock (Notts, 21) & Gabby White                                          World ranking 21

 

Coaches: Andy Wood, Kenneth Jonassen, Julian Robertson.
Performance Analyst: Hannah Behan. Physio: Matt Ashman.