Nathan James Robertson (born 30 May 1977) from Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire is a retired English badminton player who has achieved international success in both the men's events and the mixed doubles event. He was educated at Dayncourt School Specialist Sports College.

Nathan Robertson
Personal information
Birth nameNathan James Robertson
CountryEngland
Born (1977-05-30) 30 May 1977 (age 46)
Nottingham, England[1]
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Weight82 kg (181 lb; 12.9 st)[2]
HandednessRight
CoachAndy Wood
Julian Robertson[1]
Men's & mixed doubles
Highest ranking1 (XD with Gail Emms)
4 (MD)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens Mixed doubles
Representing  England
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2006 Madrid Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Copenhagen Men's doubles
Sudirman Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Glasgow Mixed team
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Manchester Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 1998 Kuala Lumpur Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2006 Melbourne Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2010 Delhi Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2010 Delhi Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Kuala Lumpur Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Kuala Lumpur Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Manchester Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Delhi Mixed team
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004 Geneva Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2002 Malmö Men's doubles
Silver medal – second place 2002 Malmö Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2004 Geneva Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Sofia Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Glasgow Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Herning Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Manchester Mixed doubles
European Mixed Team Championships
Silver medal – second place 1998 Sofia Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2000 Glasgow Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2002 Malmö Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2008 Herning Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2009 Liverpool Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Den Bosch Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Amsterdam Mixed team
European Men's Team Championships
Silver medal – second place 2008 Almere Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Thessalonica Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Amsterdam Men's team
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1994 Kuala Lumpur Mixed doubles
BWF profile

Career edit

2004 edit

Robertson best results include winning gold at the 2004 European Championships in Geneva, and a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games, both partnering Gail Emms in the mixed doubles. He has won six medals at the Commonwealth Games, and has won the last four men's doubles (with Anthony Clark) and the last two mixed doubles (with Gail Emms) at the English National Championships.

2004 Summer Olympics edit

Robertson competed in badminton at the 2004 Summer Olympics in men's doubles with partner Anthony Clark. They defeated Patapol Ngernsrisuk and Sudket Prapakamol of Thailand in the first round, then were defeated in the round of 16 by Eng Hian and Flandy Limpele of Indonesia, who had previously represented England for a brief period.

He also competed in mixed doubles with Emms. They had a bye in the first round and defeated Björn Siegemund and Nicol Pitro of Germany in the second. In the quarterfinals, Robertson and Emms beat Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting of China 15–8, 17–15 to advance to the semifinals. There, they beat Jonas Rasmussen and Rikke Olsen of Denmark 15–6, 15–12. In the final, they lost to Chinese pair Zhang Jun and Gao Ling 1–15, 15–12, 12–15 to finish with the silver medal.

2005 World Championships edit

At the 2005 World Championships, Robertson and Emms began the tournament as number 1 seeds. However, after getting a bye into the second round, he received an ankle injury during practice and they were forced to withdraw.

2006 edit

The 2006 Commonwealth Games brought Robertson a silver in the team event and a gold in the mixed doubles with Emms.

The same year, he won the gold medal at the 2006 World Championships together with Emms. They beat Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg 21–15, 21–12 in the final.

2008 Beijing Games edit

Robertson and Emms did well in their first match in the mixed doubles with a win over the Chinese pairing who were world number 2. The 2006 world champions took the first game 21–16 before Gao Ling and Zheng Bo hit back to win the second 21–16. The British duo found themselves 12–17 down in the decider only to show great powers of recovery to triumph 21–19. Along with his partner, Gail Emms, they lost out on a medal at the quarter final stage.

2009 World Championships edit

Robertson was part of the English team forced to withdraw from the 2009 World Championships held in Hyderabad, India because of a terrorist threat.[3]

Racket edit

Nathan Robertson used the Carlton Fireblade Tour racket.

Retirement edit

Nathan Robertson announced his retirement on 5 June 2012.[4]

Achievements edit

Olympic Games edit

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2004 Goudi Olympic Hall, Athens, Greece   Gail Emms   Zhang Jun
  Gao Ling
1–15, 15–12, 12–15   Silver

World Championships edit

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1999 Brøndby Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark   Simon Archer   Lee Dong-soo
  Yoo Yong-sung
11–15, 8–15   Bronze

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2006 Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid, Spain   Gail Emms   Anthony Clark
  Donna Kellogg
21–15, 21–12   Gold

Commonwealth Games edit

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Julian Robertson   Cheah Soon Kit
  Yap Kim Hock
2–15, 15–12, 8–15   Bronze
2002 Bolton Arena, Manchester, England   Anthony Clark   Chang Kim Wai
  Choong Tan Fook
5–8, 3–7, 4–7   Bronze
2010 Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi, India   Anthony Clark   Koo Kien Keat
  Tan Boon Heong
19–21, 14–21   Silver

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Joanne Davies   Simon Archer
  Joanne Goode
2–15, 5–15   Silver
2006 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia   Gail Emms   Daniel Shirley
  Sara Petersen
21–17, 21–10   Gold
2010 Siri Fort Sports Complex, New Delhi, India   Jenny Wallwork   Koo Kien Keat
  Chin Eei Hui
20–22, 12–21   Silver

European Championships edit

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 Winter Sports Palace, Sofia, Bulgaria   Julian Robertson   Peter Axelsson
  Pär-Gunnar Jönsson
15–10, 10–15, 10–15   Bronze
2000 Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, Glasgow, Scotland   Simon Archer   Jens Eriksen
  Jesper Larsen
13–15, 15–7, 3–15   Bronze
2002 Baltiska Hallen, Malmö, Sweden   Anthony Clark   Jens Eriksen
  Martin Lundgaard Hansen
4–7, 7–1, 3–7, 7–2, 3–7   Silver
2004 Queue d’Arve Sport Center, Geneva, Switzerland   Anthony Clark   Jens Eriksen
  Martin Lundgaard Hansen
3–15, 9–15   Silver

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2002 Baltiska Hallen, Malmö, Sweden   Gail Emms   Jens Eriksen
  Mette Schjoldager
5–7, 3–7, 1–7   Silver
2004 Queue d’Arve Sport Center, Geneva, Switzerland   Gail Emms   Jonas Rasmussen
  Rikke Olsen
15–3, 8–15, 15–5   Gold
2008 Messecenter, Herning, Denmark   Gail Emms   Robert Mateusiak
  Nadieżda Kostiuczyk
21–14, 10–21, 6–21   Bronze
2010 Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England   Jenny Wallwork   Robert Mateusiak
  Nadieżda Kostiuczyk
18–21, 21–18, 9–21   Bronze

World Junior Championships edit

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1994 Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   Gail Emms   Zhang Wei
  Qiang Hong
14–17, 5–15   Bronze

BWF Superseries edit

The BWF Superseries, which was launched on 14 December 2006 and implemented in 2007,[5] is a series of elite badminton tournaments, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). BWF Superseries levels are Superseries and Superseries Premier. A season of Superseries consists of twelve tournaments around the world that have been introduced since 2011.[6] Successful players are invited to the Superseries Finals, which are held at the end of each year.

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2009 Singapore Open   Anthony Clark   Markis Kido
  Hendra Setiawan
21–12, 21–11   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2007 Malaysia Open   Gail Emms   Zheng Bo
  Gao Ling
12–21, 21–14, 15–21   Runner-up
2007 Denmark Open   Gail Emms   He Hanbin
  Yu Yang
17–21, 21–19, 17–21   Runner-up
2010 Denmark Open   Jenny Wallwork   Thomas Laybourn
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl
12–21, 21–12, 9–21   Runner-up
  BWF Superseries Finals tournament
  BWF Superseries Premier tournament
  BWF Superseries tournament

BWF Grand Prix edit

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the BWF Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) which was held from 2007 to 2017. The World Badminton Grand Prix has been sanctioned by the International Badminton Federation from 1983 to 2006.

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1998 Polish Open   Julian Robertson   Ian Pearson
  Nick Ponting
2–15, 15–8, 15–3   Winner
2004 Thailand Open   Anthony Clark   Luluk Hadiyanto
  Alvent Yulianto
12–15, 6–15   Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2001 Dutch Open   Gail Emms   Chris Bruil
  Lotte Jonathans
7–5, 3–7, 7–3, 7–4   Winner
2001 Denmark Open   Gail Emms   Tri Kusharjanto
  Emma Ermawati
5–7, 1–7, 4–7   Runner-up
2002 Malaysia Open   Gail Emms   Wang Wei
  Zhang Yawen
11–9, 11–4   Winner
2002 Singapore Open   Gail Emms   Kim Dong-moon
  Ra Kyung-min
2–11, 10–13   Runner-up
2003 Thailand Open   Gail Emms   Chen Qiqiu
  Zhao Tingting
4–11, 11–8, 0–11   Runner-up
2003 Malaysia Open   Gail Emms   Kim Dong-moon
  Ra Kyung-min
6–15, 5–15   Runner-up
2004 Thailand Open   Gail Emms   Sudket Prapakamol
  Saralee Thungthongkam
8–15, 15–12, 15–11   Winner
2004 Denmark Open   Gail Emms   Chen Qiqiu
  Zhao Tingting
4–15, 11–15   Runner-up
2005 German Open   Gail Emms   Lee Jae-jin
  Lee Hyo-jung
12–15, 14–17   Runner-up
2005 All England Open   Gail Emms   Thomas Laybourn
  Kamilla Rytter Juhl
15–10, 15–12   Winner
2005 Swiss Open   Gail Emms   Nova Widianto
  Liliyana Natsir
17–14, 15–6   Winner
2005 Hong Kong Open   Gail Emms   Xie Zhongbo
  Zhang Yawen
8–15, 5–15   Runner-up
2005 China Open   Gail Emms   Lee Jae-jin
  Lee Hyo-jung
15–10, 15–10   Winner
2006 Swiss Open   Gail Emms   Robert Blair
  Natalie Munt
14–17, 15–7, 15–2   Winner
2006 All England Open   Gail Emms   Zhang Jun
  Gao Ling
15–12, 14–17, 1–15   Runner-up
2006 Singapore Open   Gail Emms   Nova Widianto
  Liliyana Natsir
16–21, 22–20, 21–23   Runner-up
2011 Swiss Open   Jenny Wallwork   Joachim Fischer Nielsen
  Christinna Pedersen
21–23, 14–21   Runner-up
  BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
  BWF & IBF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series edit

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1995 Hungarian International   Julian Robertson   Harald Koch
  Jürgen Koch
15–18, 15–7, 15–13   Winner
1995 Welsh International   Julian Robertson   Andrey Antropov
  Nikolai Zuyev
8–15, 8–15   Runner-up
1996 Portugal International   Steve Isaac   James Anderson
  Ian Pearson
11–15, 5–15   Runner-up
1996 La Chaux-de-Fonds International   Steve Isaac   James Anderson
  Ian Pearson
12–15, 15–13, 15–17   Runner-up
1996 Norwegian International   Julian Robertson   Henrik Andersson
  Johan Tholinsson
9–2, 9–8, 9–3   Winner
1997 Norwegian International   Julian Robertson   Henrik Andersson
  Jens Olsson
4–9, 9–4, 9–2, 0–9, 9–4   Winner
2002 BMW Open International   Anthony Clark   Simon Archer
  Flandy Limpele
5–15, 14–17   Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1995 Hungarian International   Gail Emms   Jürgen Koch
  Irina Serova
6–15, 8–15   Runner-up
1995 Irish International   Gail Emms   Julian Robertson
  Lorraine Cole
4–15, 4–15   Runner-up
1996 Portugal International   Gail Emms   James Anderson
  Emma Constable
12–15, 15–13, 18–13   Winner
1997 La Chaux-de-Fonds International   Sara Hardaker   Vladislav Druzchenko
  Marina Yakusheva
9–15, 15–3, 10–15   Runner-up
1997 Irish International   Joanne Wright   Henrik Andersson
  Jenny Karlsson
14–18, 15–11, 17–14   Winner
2002 BMW Open International   Gail Emms   Mathias Boe
  Rikke Olsen
11–9, 3–11, 11–9   Winner
2012 Swedish International   Jenny Wallwork   Mads Pieler Kolding
  Julie Houmann
21–17, 21–17   Winner
2012 Polish International   Jenny Wallwork   Ben Stawski
  Lauren Smith
21–15, 21–11   Winner
2013 Canadian International   Jenny Wallwork   Toby Ng
  Alex Bruce
21–9, 21–12   Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF/IBF International Series tournament

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Nathan Robertson". www.badmintonengland.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Nathan Robertson". www.teamgb.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Terror threat forces English out of World Badminton Championships". The Guardian. London. 9 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Nathan Robertson: GB's 'best ever' confirms retirement". 5 June 2012.
  5. ^ "BWF Launches Super Series". Badminton Australia. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007.
  6. ^ "Yonex All England Elevated To BWF Premier Super Series Event". www.ibadmintonstore.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.

External links edit