Doubles specialist Archer to play in his last All-England

[ants]

The Star Jan 12th

LONDON: Britain’s Simon Archer, Olympic badminton mixed doubles bronze medallist with Jo Goode in 2000, is quitting the international scene at the end of the year and will play in his last All-England championships in Birmingham next week.

The 31-year-old hopes to go out on a high with other farewell appearances in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March, the European Championships in Holland in April and the World Championships in Madrid in September.

Archer, who came back from a nine-month absence in 2001 after a serious knee injury to win a Commonwealth title in Manchester in 2002, said on Tuesday: “I had wanted to finish at the 2007 All-England but I have to be realistic after all the knee trouble I have had. I desperately want to be selected for the Commonwealth Games but that is up to the selectors.

“I have picked certain events I want to play in during the rest of the year then I will have to think about the future. But I’ve already talked to (former partner) Chris Hunt about playing the 2007 Nationals.”

Archer, with 85 England caps to his credit, won the European men’s doubles title twice (with Hunt), the Commonwealth mixed doubles twice (with Goode), and a 1999 world silver medal (with Goode).

He is the holder of 15 English national doubles titles (nine men’s and six mixed). – Reuters

[s1nn3r]

He is only 31, i thought he was very old. It was like ages since I heard his name. I think when Park JB was UK coach Archer got some good result??