Commonwealth Games: Chris and Gabby Adcock win badminton gold for England
Last Updated: 03/08/14 12:22pm
![Chris and Gabby Adcock: gold medal winners](https://e1.365dm.com/14/08/768x432/Chris-Gabby-Adcock-badminton-Commonwealth-Gam_3182130.jpg?20150122121809)
England's Chris and Gabby Adcock won the badminton mixed doubles title at the Commonwealth Games with a convincing victory over Chris Langridge and Heather Olver.
The husband-and-wife world No 5 pairing lived up to their top seeding as they powered to a 21-9 21-12 win over their international team-mates at the Emirates Arena.
The Adcocks did not relinquish their grip after imposing themselves on the second seeds early in the first game and they went on to wrap up victory in 35 minutes.
Their dominance of the Commonwealth Games competition was underlined in a one-sided final in which Langridge and Olver never won more than two points in succession.
The Adcocks' victory capped a superb tournament in which they were hardly troubled and did not drop a single game. The most points they conceded in any one game in their five matches was 17.
For Gabby Adcock the gold added to the bronze she won in the women's doubles with Lauren Smith while both she and Chris were part of the silver-medalling England side in the team event.
Langridge and Olver, although completely outplayed, could also reflect on a good Games. Both had a hand in the team success while Langridge will also go home with a bronze medal from the men's doubles.
The future of Langridge and Olver as a partnership is uncertain as Badminton England consider a reshuffle ahead of the 2016 Olympics.
Spearhead
The Adcocks are certain to spearhead the British drive for Rio in mixed doubles, with their success in Glasgow considerably enhancing their reputation even though it was a non-ranking event.
Chris, 25, and Gabby, 23, who were married last year, have made strong progress since being restored as an on-court partnership after London 2012. Chris had played at the Olympics with Scotland's Imogen Bankier.
In other finals action, Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour fell short in her quest for gold as she lost 2-0 to Canada's Michelle Li in the women's singles final.
Glasgow-based Gilmour, the second seed, was unable to impose herself on the third seed at the Emirates Arena and had to settle for silver as she went down 21-14 21-6.
The match, between the players ranked 17th and 19th in the world, was expected to be evenly contested but it proved anything but as Gilmour was outplayed.
The 20-year-old Scot slumped to the ground after losing the final point - handing Canada a first gold in women's singles - after 38 minutes.