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Badminton: Jenny Wallwork goes global in Olympic quest INTERVIEW
Leeds badminton star Jenny Wallwork is now a three-time national champion with the only downside of last weekend’s success at Bolton Arena being that the tournament carried no ranking points for Olympic qualification.
There are, though, plenty on offer in the likes of Germany, Switzerland and India over the next three months – Wallwork still clinging on to her lifelong Olympic dream.
Wallwork, 25, and fellow Leeds star Gabby White were once again crowned women’s doubles champions at the English Badminton Nationals after defeating Mariana Agathangelou and Heather Oliver.
The pair then competed against each other in the mixed doubles finals – White and Chris Adcock edging out Wallwork and Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson in a battle of not only partners on court but partners off it as well.
Wallwork and Robertson, 34, have been dating for two years and matters are developing quickly off court with the pair having recently bought their first house in Rushden, near to the sport’s national centre in Milton Keynes.
Wallwork admits deep down that she misses Leeds, but over the next few months she will be focusing solely on her mixed doubles assault with Robertson and targeting a big haul of Olympic ranking points before the qualification deadline on May 3.
Reflecting on last weekend’s achievements and admitting that the next three months are what matters most, Wallwork told LS1: “I’m very happy to be national champion again. It’s a good achievement.
“Me and Gabby played well but in terms of the women’s doubles we are quite a way off Olympic qualifying and unfortunately national points don’t go towards that.
“We weren’t really on track for the women’s so that has taken more of a back seat this year. we have been training for the mixed really and it’s an important patch that we’ve got now as we’ve only six or seven tournaments left.
“But there is definitely enough time to make a change and to get into the top 16.”
A top-16 ranking guarantees Olympic qualification but each country can only take one pair unless both couples are ranked inside the top eight.
Wallwork and Robertson – who are currently ranked 18 – face tough competition from Adcock and his Scottish playing partner Imogen Bankier, who are currently ranked 14.
Wallwork, though, hopes those placings can be reversed.
“At the moment they are 14 in the world and we are 18 and the difference in the points between us at the moment are only a round or two in a tournament,” she said.
“We’re not far off and it’s just about getting through rounds now and, not to be horrible, needing them to lose!
“But we have just got to concentrate on ourselves and if we get the results then we will get there.”
Not that qualifying will be easy with the duo set for a demanding schedule over the next few months, starting with the German Open in Mulheim at the end of this month followed by the All England Badminton Championships in Birmingham.
Competitions in the likes of Switzerland, Australia and India will follow and Wallwork admits there is barely time or indeed any point to unpack her suitcase.
“It gets to that point where you think, ‘shall I even bother’?” she laughed.
“You kind of just take your washing out and leave everything else in the case and it has been like that, it’s just been so full on.”
Needless to say, there is also scant time for Wallwork to be back in her home-town of Leeds.
She said: “Nathan and I have recently bought a house in Rushden and when we’ve had time we have been decorating.
“But if I could choose anywhere to be it would definitely be Leeds with my family and friends. However, I get back whenever I can.”
There won’t be many homecomings over the next few months with Wallwork and Robertson jetsetting the world in search of ranking points to fulfil their Olympic dream.
The couple will be clocking up some serious air miles but Wallwork is adamant the jet-setting lifestyle is no vacation at all.
“Everyone thinks it is a bit of a holiday but we see the coach and the hotel room and that’s about all we get to see!” she said.
Robertson already has one Olympic medal from Athens 2004 when partnering Gail Emms and now he’ll be out to achieve something similar with his playing-partner girlfriend.
Asked what it’s like juggling a relationship on court as well as off it, Wallwork said: “It is quite difficult. when it’s going well it’s fantastic.
“But when it’s not going too well it’s quite difficult!
“We just want to do really well for each other, the same as any partnership really.”
* To experience live the world’s best players battle it out for Olympic qualification points on a global stage, visit www.allenglandbadminton.com or call the box office on 0844 444 9994.
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