Badminton: Clark proves point in defeat

Nick Ponting and Joanne Wright became the first home winners of an All England title since 1985 when they took the mixed doubles at the Yonex-sponsored tournament at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham yesterday, writes James Leigh. Ponting and Wright triumphed 15-10, 15-11 against their England colleagues Chris Hunt and Gill Clark, yet neither pair had been seeded to get past the quarter-finals. Ponting played with great authority while Wright, despite a groin injury, again showed herself to be England's most improved young player. For Clark, a 32-year-old with the record number of England caps for a woman, it was a third defeat in her three finals at the world's most prestigious Open tournament. However her performance answered those who claimed she should retire. Fiona Smith, England's Commonwealth Games treble gold medallist, has announced her retirement.