The new badminton mixed doubles pairing of Anthony Clark and Heather Olver made a stunning start to their partnership by beating the number seven seeds at the Proton Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur today (Wednesday).
 
The pair are competing in their first tournament after joining forces following the retirement last month of Clark’s former partner, Donna Kellogg.
 
Clark (pictured here with Kellogg) and Olver beat Polish number seven seeds Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Kostiuczyk 23-21 12-21 21-16 in their first round contest.
 
In the second round they now face another comparatively new English partnership – Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork - who won their opening contest of the Malaysia Open against Wong Wai Hong and Chau Hoi Wah of Hong Kong 21-15 21-12.
 
It means England are guaranteed a presence in the quarter-finals, when Denmark's world champions Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Juhl are the likely last-eight opponents on Friday.
 
Clark and Robertson were both members of the England teams that won team gold at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games and silver at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006. Robertson also won mixed doubles gold in Melbourne, partnering the now retired Gail Emms, while Clark won bronze in the men’s doubles with Robert Blair.
 
England finished second to Malaysia in the badminton medals table at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games with two golds, a silver and two bronzes.
 
The 2010 Commonwealth Games take place in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. They will feature 17 sports - archery, aquatics (swimming, synchronised swimming & diving), athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby 7s, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. With the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Commonwealth Games England is entering a breath-taking four years of sport.
 
Commonwealth Games England (GCE) is the organisation responsible for selecting and organising England's team at the Commonwealth Games. Team England finished second to Australia on the medal table at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games with 36 golds, 40 silvers and 34 bronzes.

Sport England is a major funder of Team England and its aim is to encourage more people of all ages to start, stay and succeed in sport at every level and to make England the most active and successful sporting nation.
 

For further information please contact the Commonwealth Games England press office at Matchtight Ltd on 07765 071683 or 07831 755351, or see the CGE’s website at www.weareengland.org  <http://www.weareengland.org>
 
For further information about Badminton England please see the badminton England website at www.badmintonengland.co.uk <http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk>