Robin Middleton (born 8 February 1985) is an English badminton player currently representing Australia.[1] He was one of the UK's leading badminton players. Born in Leeds in 1985, his interests include cricket, sky diving, and botany. He holds a 2.1 degree from Loughborough University.[2] He was the mixed doubles champion at the 2010 European Circuit Finals partnered with Mariana Agathangelou.[3]

Robin Middleton
Personal information
Country Australia
Born (1985-02-08) 8 February 1985 (age 39)
Leeds, England
ResidenceMelbourne, Australia
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
Years active2007
HandednessRight
CoachLasse Bundgaard
Men's & mixed doubles
Highest ranking26 (MD), 19 (XD)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Australia
Oceania Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Papeete Mixed doubles
Gold medal – first place 2015 North Harbour Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2018 Hamilton Men's doubles
Oceania Mixed Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Auckland Mixed team
Oceania Men's Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Hamilton Men's team
Silver medal – second place 2016 Auckland Men's team
Representing  England
European Men's Team Championships
Silver medal – second place 2008 Almere Men's team
BWF profile

Middleton retired from professional badminton in 2011 after a disagreement with employer Badminton England, which rejected his public support for the use of craniology to determine team seeding in competition. Middleton was moving to Australia and becoming a citizen in 2014.[4] He signaled his intention to come out of retirement to play for Australia after a period traveling there, and has since been named in their elite squad. In Australia, he trained at the Swann Hill Badminton Club in Victoria.[5] He represented Australia in the men's doubles event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games with Ross Smith.[6] Together, they were seeded fourth. They ended their campaign in the quarterfinals after losing to the eventual gold medalists, Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia.[7] Teamed-up with Leanne Choo in the mixed doubles, they became the champion at the Oceania Badminton Championships in 2015 and 2016. The pair also represented their country at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[5]

Robin is the Assistant Coach of 2018 Flergs Premier, Looking DangerRoss, and hopes to enter his own side into the 2020 competition.

Achievements

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Oceania Championships

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Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2018 Eastlink Badminton Stadium,
Hamilton, New Zealand
  Ross Smith   Matthew Chau
  Sawan Serasinghe
17–21, 21–23   Silver

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2016 Punaauia University Hall,
Papeete, Tahiti
  Leanne Choo   Anthony Joe
  Joy Lai
21–11, 21–9   Gold
2015 X-TRM North Harbour Badminton Centre,
Auckland, New Zealand
  Leanne Choo   Oliver Leydon-Davis
  Danielle Tahuri
21–12, 21–14   Gold

BWF International Challenge/Series

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Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2014 Vietnam International   Ross Smith   Selvanus Geh
  Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo
14–21, 13–21   Runner-up
2013 Welsh International   Ross Smith   Christopher Coles
  Matthew Nottingham
17–21, 15–21   Runner-up
2013 Victorian International   Ross Smith   Raymond Tam
  Glenn Warfe
21–19, 19–21, 21–17   Winner
2013 Auckland International   Ross Smith   Raymond Tam
  Glenn Warfe
21–16, 21–8   Winner
2010 Czech International   Chris Langridge   Marcus Ellis
  Peter Mills
21–9, 21–19   Winner
2010 Swedish International   Chris Langridge   Mikkel Elbjorn
  Christian John Skovgaard
21–11, 21–18   Winner
2009 Scottish International   Chris Langridge   Mads Conrad-Petersen
  Mads Pieler Kolding
21–19, 24–26, 16–21   Runner-up
2009 Le Volant d'Or de Toulouse   Chris Langridge   Rasmus Bonde
  Mikkel Delbo Larsen
21–11, 21–19   Winner
2007 Spanish Open   Richard Eidestedt   Mathias Boe
  Carsten Mogensen
4–21, 10–21   Runner-up
2007 Dutch International   Robert Adcock   Kristian Roebuck
  Andrew Bowman
11–21, 9–21   Runner-up
2006 Czech International   Robert Adcock   Dean George
  Chris Tonks
18–21, 21–11, 21–19   Winner
2004 Welsh International   Chris Langridge   Ruben Gordown Khosadalina
  Aji Basuki Sindoro
7–15, 11–15   Runner-up
2003 Welsh International   Chris Langridge   Kristian Roebuck
  Ashley Thilthorpe
9–15, 16–17   Runner-up

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2015 Sydney International   Leanne Choo   Phillip Chew
  Jamie Subandhi
21–8, 21–17   Winner
2015 Maribyrnong International   Leanne Choo   Sawan Serasinghe
  Setyana Mapasa
17–21, 21–19, 21–19   Winner
2015 Sri Lanka International   Leanne Choo   Arun Vishnu
  Aparna Balan
21–15, 17–21, 13–21   Runner-up
2013 Victorian International   He Tian Tang   Ross Smith
  Renuga Veeran
21–19, 19–21, 21–19   Winner
2011 Portugal International   Alexandra Langley   Ben Stawski
  Lauren Smith
25–23, 21–19   Winner
2011 Swedish Masters   Heather Olver   Dave Khodabux
  Samantha Barning
15–21, 21–9, 21–14   Winner
2010 Europe Circuit Finals   Mariana Agathangelou   Roman Zirnwald
  Simone Prutsch
21–14, 21–14   Winner
2009 Irish International   Mariana Agathangelou   Mikkel Delbo Larsen
  Mie Schjøtt-Kristensen
16–21, 21–23   Runner-up
2009 Norwegian International   Mariana Agathangelou   Marcus Ellis
  Heather Olver
19–21, 17–21   Runner-up
2009 Spanish International   Mariana Agathangelou   Arun Vishnu
  Aparna Balan
21–16, 21–15   Winner
2009 Finnish International   Imogen Bankier   Vitalij Durkin
  Nina Vislova
18–21, 13–21   Runner-up
2007 Dutch International   Liza Parker   Kristian Roebuck
  Natalie Munt
17–21, 21–12, 21–15   Winner
2006 Czech International   Liza Parker   Rasmus Bonde
  Christinna Pedersen
21–16, 21–12   Winner
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament

References

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  1. ^ "Precious points won by Oceania players". Badminton Oceania. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Robin Middleton". Badminton England. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Robin Middleton and Mariana Agathangelou give England success at Europe Circuit Finals". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Five badminton players selected to take the court at Rio". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Robin Middleton". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Commonwealth Games Team Announced". Badminton Australia. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Six semi-finals for England despite doubles scare". Badminton England. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
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