WORCESTER'S Simon Archer is assured of at least a bronze medal in the mixed team badminton event after England came from behind to beat Malaysia 3-2 in their final Group A game at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Archer did not figure yesterday but should turn out for England against Scotland in their semi-final, after women's doubles pairing Jo Goode and Gail Emms beat Lim Pek Siah and Ang Li Peng 7-3 7-5 7-3 in the vital fifth rubber.
Goode, who had hardly played since having her second child earlier this year, grew stronger with every point, and Emms was always at her side covering every inch of the court.
Emms seems too short to be a badminton player, but what she lacks in height she makes up for in heart and effort, and it was fitting that she should play the decisive shot in the final rally.
At 2-1 down with two rubbers to play England had looked doomed, but Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark kept them in the match with one of the best performances of their careers.
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