All England Badminton Open Big Day Out

Well, didn't the boys have a great day in Birmingham soaking up top-flight racquet sport on Thursday? They most certainly did, after they'd wrapped'emselves around an early morning full-English breakfast at the Merchant in Cannock. Somehow, club secretary Linda inveigled her way into the grub part of the day, although she was never going to spend 8 hours watching badminton (her choo-choo ride to Brum led to an afternoon around the shops!)

The two Robs, Neil, & Terry finally got to the Barclaycard Arena &, after a lovely pat-down by pleasant security personnel, settled in for a days fun. Rob L's man-crush Lin Dan played second game Court 1 against Japan's Sho Sasaki. The Chinese 5th seed was ill-at-ease in the first game, & Sasaki saw him off 20-22. But Dan eased into his stride with each stroke, & his vast experience saw him coast through to the quarter finals 21-6, 21-8.

Mid afternoon saw the start of an all Japaness tussle in women's doubles, with Matsuo & Naito taking on Naoko Fukuman & Kurumi Yonao. These lasses seemed to be playing pretty much all afternoon; it ain't a great tactic to return the shuttle to the centre of the court 75% of the time. Their three sets took 102 minutes to complete, with Fukuman & Yonao coming out on top 10-21, 21-15, 21-17. Not the best badminton, but mesmeric in sheer physicality & long rallies. 

There was a whole load of the 'weak lemon drink' & packed lunch stuff that goes along with a nerds day out - people, it was badminton, all day! However, there were also elements of true beauty, the most wondrous being Neil's watching out for Rob L by bringing extra drink & food; it was as though he was nurturing a teeny-weeny fledgling with a poorly wing.   

We watched a fantastic game with Olympic Bronze medallist Saina Nehwal taking on Thailand's Busanan Ongbumrungphan. Currently world number 2, the Indian was strong & decisive, indeed imperious, in her 21-16, 21-9 defeat of Busanan. It was easy to see why she was the first Indian woman to become world number one; watch her efforts in Rio this summer. 

Chris & Gabby Adcock strolled through their game against the Korean pairing of Kim & Shin; they looked very strong contenders for the later stages of the tournament & were the only British players in the Second Round. 

However, a world badminton event & element of the Olympic qualification process for top-flight players provides great spectacle & enjoyment regardless of allegiance. UK television usually shows men's singles & games in which Brits are represented, so it was good to see the strengths & differences between the various disciplines. We will be arranging another Big Badz Day Out in 2017.

After all the excitement, it was a route-march to New Street for an overcrowded, late commuter train back to Cannock, followed by a good few pints at the Mill Farm. When we agreed our badminton skills had improved (by some kind of osmosis) & we could hold our own against any of those prancing ninnies we deigned to watch earlier, we called it a night & staggered happily home!