The Bank of Scotland event at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall has proved to be very kind for the 23-year-old Imogen Bankier. Three years ago, victory in the mixed doubles with Robert Blair marked a major breakthrough and the pair went on to reach the dizzy heights of the world’s top ten. 

On this occasion, Bankier reclaimed the mixed title with a new English partner, Chris Adcock. The couple first played together at the Bitburger Open in September, and indicated serious promise by reaching the semi-finals.  

“But to win such a prestigious title as the Bank of Scotland Scottish International was very special,” said Bankier, whose partnership with Blair suffered due to injury hiccups. “It’s great to win it again. 

“Chris and I have only been training for a few weeks but we have clicked right away. Now we really hope to be given the chance to become an established partnership and get set for the Olympic qualification. 

“We have the Irish and Italian Opens before Christmas and a short break before, hopefully, getting into Super Series tournaments at the start of next year. We need to raise our rankings and then we will be all set to start the Olympic qualification in May.” 

Adcock is equally enthusiastic about the new pairing. “Considering we are just starting out I think we have done really well,” he said. “All we need is more time to train together and then get the experience in the bigger tournaments. Winning in Scotland was great.” 

One advantage for the couple is that Adcock is left-handed. “It gives us a few cheap points,” he pointed out.  

For Bankier, it is also a plus. “Two of my original coaches were left-handed and I grew up playing with Watson Briggs and he is also a leftie so I love it,” she said.  

Yvette Yun Luo, the Scottish national coach, has no doubt that Bankier can make London 2012. Her only concern was that she found the right partner. It seems as though that doubt has been overcome. 

The other concern for Bankier was the knee injury that kept her out of the game for many months last year.  She will probably eventually need an operation – but it can be put on the back burner. For now, everything is in the positive. 

The win in Glasgow lifted Bankier and Adcock to No.112 in the world – and they know they have a long, long way to go to overhaul the current top British pair of Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork. They are ranked No.5. The next British duo are Anthony Clark and Heather Olver at No.49.  

But Robertson and Clark are both nearing the end of their careers – Bankier and Adcock are the new young guns and London is well within their sights.   

In 2008, Bankier and Blair just missed out on the Olympic place – but she got the chance to go to Beijing as a member of a “London hopeful” squad. Now it seems as though the experience could be put to very good use. 

EB

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