BADMINTON: Jenny Wallwork will face the challenge of the world’s top players at the Yonex All England Open Championships which begin today.

The Bolton-born star, who won gold in both the mixed doubles and women’s doubles at the English National Championships in Manchester last month, has a much sterner test ahead of her over the next few days.

The All England Championships attract the cream of the global talent with China winning five titles last year. Four of the five Chinese winners from 12 months ago are back to defend their titles at the tournament which is the third Super Series event of the year.

Wallwork, who is now based in Yorkshire, will partner Nathan Robertson, with whom she won last month’s national championships’ mixed doubles title.

She will partner Yorkshire’s Gabby White in the women’s doubles, looking to improve on last year’s quarter-final appearance. They will lead the British challenge in the ladies’ doubles in which they have risen in the rankings to just outside the top 20 in the world.