WORCESTER'S Simon Archer is looking to Athens after scooping another Commonwealth Games badminton gold medal in Manchester.

Archer believes he and his partner Jo Goode can go better than Sydney 2002, when their bronze provided Britain with its first ever Olympic badminton medal.

But first Archer will need to persuade Goode not to call it a day.

After their 0-7 7-5 7-3 7-3 win over Malaysians Chew Choon Eng and Chin Eei Hui, Archer said: "I'm ready for Athens - and I hope Jo will be too."

Goode, who recently returned after 14 months out of the game after giving birth to her second child, had previously intimated Athens may be a step too far.

But she said: "I might be persuaded. We'll have to see."

The pair are proving adept at coming back from the brink. One year ago, Britain's most successful mixed doubles pair was on the verge of splitting as Archer struggled with a career-threatening knee injury at the same time as Goode's absence.

Another Worcester Commonwealth Games competitor claimed glory when Rachel Walker, the former Worcester Sixth Form College student, helped the England women's hockey team to a silver medal after narrowly losing 3-2 to India.