OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Defeat leaves Adcock and Bankier devastated

By Andrew Greaves, Sportsbeat staff, London 2012

GREAT Britain badminton player Chris Adcock says that knowing he and mixed doubles partner Imogen Bankier would not be progressing into the next round was the lowest point of his career.

DEVASTATED: Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier lose to top seeds and go crashing out

The pair lost 21-13 21-14 to top seeds Nan Zhang and Yunlei Zhao of China to bring to an end their involvement at London 2012.

Despite losing in straight sets, Adcock said the duo had nothing left in the tank at the end.

"It was the lowest point in our badminton careers, knowing that we can't get through. We did everything we could do. We didn't leave anything out there," he said.

"We've had a fantastic year and can look back on all the positives. Maybe we used up all our good luck early.

"I think we prepared really well and came out firing."

The pair also suffered defeats against Russia and Germany and Bankier admits that the mood in the British badminton camp was downbeat.

"Everyone played well but had huge disappointment. But, on a positive note, we're a young team with a long career ahead of us. Our own expectations were always the highest," she said.

"It was difficult mentally to pick ourselves up from a real low and play an essentially dead rubber. We have beaten them before even though they're the world champions. We just wanted to go out there and give them hell but today they were just too good."

© Sportsbeat 2012