Nathan Robertson Retires

NATHAN ROBERTSON, one of the elite group of England players to make more than 100 international appearances, today brought the curtain down on his glittering badminton career.

The 2006 world mixed doubles champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist has finally decided to retire just two weeks after winning his 114th England cap at the Thomas Cup Finals in China.

Robertson, who was 35 on May 30, made his first England appearance aged 18 in 1995 and that was the launch pad to a career which brought success at every level. Even in the last weeks of his career he and his mixed doubles partner, Jenny Wallwork had climbed to No. 17 in the world, coming so close to selection for London 2012.

His senior successes include:

World badminton ditches controversial women's skirts ruling ahead of London Olympics

By Rod Gilmour

The Badminton World Federation's new dress code was due to come into effect last April, requiring all female players to wear skirts or dresses "to ensure attractive presentation".

Eriko Hirose. Photo : Steve Cubbins

The move sparked uproar and the world governing body was forced to pospone the move. Imogen Bankier, one of Scotland's leading mixed doubles, told Telegraph Sport at the time that attempts to make skirts mandatory were both "dated and sexist".

However, deputy president Paisan Rangsikitpho finally put the issue to bed at the weekend after admitting that the skirts rule - which was criticised by China, Indonesia and India, and Malaysia's main Muslim party - had finally been scrapped to avoid controversy ahead of London 2012.