Ananova:

Gail Emms' hopes of adding to her seven English titles were dashed when she was forced to pull out of the championships which start on Friday at Manchester Velodrome.

Emms was hot favourite and defending champion in both the mixed doubles - with Nathan Robertson - and the women's doubles, with Donna Kellogg (Derbyshire).

The 26-year-old Hertfordshire star, who reached world number one status with Robertson last summer, returned from last weekend's mixed-doubles triumph with him at the Thailand Open to face a scan on a hip injury.

England performance director Finn Traerup-Hansen said: "She's been troubled by the hip problem for some time, and the scan revealed that she has some muscle tears.

"We hope with rest she will recover quickly - especially because we have the world team championship qualifiers next month in Slovakia and she is a key member of the team."

Emms' absence boosts Olympic bronze medallist Simon Archer's hopes of adding to his 13 national titles. He and Robert Blair are second seeds in the men's doubles, while Archer and Kellogg are third seeds in the mixed behind Blair and Natalie Munt whom they beat in straight games on the way to the last four in Thailand.

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