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Sally Podger

Sally Podger (born 8 February 1962 as Sally Leadbeater) is an English badminton player.

Early and personal life

Podger grew up in Guernsey. At the age of 18, she moved to Portsmouth to gain more badminton experience.[1] She married Andrew Podger on 6 August 1981 in Vale Paris Church, Guernsey.[2][3]

Badminton career

Podger represented England and won a gold medal in the team event, a silver medal in the singles and a bronze medal in the doubles, at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[4][5]

Achievements

World Cup

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1983 Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Denmark Jesper Helledie England Martin Dew
England Gillian Gilks
9–15, 7–15 Bronze Bronze

Commonwealth Games

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1982 Chandler Sports Hall, Brisbane, Australia England Helen Troke 11–4, 3–11, 5–11 Silver Silver

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1982 Chandler Sports Hall, Brisbane, Australia England Karen Chapman India Ami Ghia
India Kanwal Thakur Singh
11–15, 15–6, 15–8 Bronze Bronze

European Championships

Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1984 Guild Hall, Preston, England England Helen Troke 5–11, 2–11 Silver Silver

European Junior Championships

Girls' doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1979 Mülheim an der Ruhr, West Germany England Gillian Clark Denmark Charlotte Pilgaard
Denmark Bettina Kristensen
15–12, 15–9 Gold Gold

IBF World Grand Prix

The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) since 1983.

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1983 Scottish Open Scotland Gillian Martin 11–4, 10–12, 11–0 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1983 Dutch Open Denmark Nettie Nielsen 11–7, 11–3 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1984 Scottish Open England Gillian Gowers 11–7, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1983 Scottish Open England Karen Chapman England Karen Beckman
England Barbara Sutton
12–15, 6–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1983 Dutch Open England Karen Chapman England Gillian Clark
England Gillian Gilks
8–15, 16–17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1983 Canadian Open England Karen Beckman Canada Claire Backhouse-Sharpe
Canada Johanne Falardeau
18–14, 10–15, 15–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

IBF International

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1984 Irish Open Scotland Alison Fulton 11–2, 11–2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1985 Belgian International Netherlands Erica van Dijck 11–7, 11–2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1984 Irish Open England Barbara Sutton Scotland Alison Fulton
Northern Ireland Barbara Beckett
15–10, 14–18, 17–14 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1984 Bell's Open England Karen Chapman England Gillian Gowers
England Helen Troke
6–15, 15–3, 14–18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1985 Belgian International Sweden Lena Staxler Netherlands Carol Liem
Netherlands Jeanette van Driel
15–5, 15–4 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner

International tournaments

Women's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1979 Czechoslovakian International Denmark Kirsten Larsen 9–12, 6–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1979 Irish Open England Paula Kilvington walkover 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1979 Victor Cup West Germany Heidi Krickhaus 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1980 German Open Denmark Pia Nielsen 7–11, 11–7, 2–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1980 Welsh International England Gillian Gilks 3–11, 2–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1981 German Open Japan Hiroe Yuki 11–12, 9–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1981 Welsh International England Karen Beckman 6–11, 9–12 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1981 Bell's Open England Gillian Gilks 11–0, 12–10 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1982 Chinese Taipei Open Indonesia Ivana Lie 10–12, 11–3, 10–12 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1982 Welsh International England Karen Beckman 11–8, 11–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1982 Canadian Open England Gillian Gilks 8–11, 11–7, 11–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1982 Victor Cup China Guan Weizhen 3–11, 4–11 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

Women's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1979 Czechoslovakian International England Gillian Clark Denmark Kirsten Larsen
Denmark Charlotte Pilgaard
15–9, 15–5 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1979 Victor Cup England Gillian Clark England Kathleen Redhead
Scotland Gillian Martin
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1980 German Open England Gillian Clark England Karen Chapman
England Jane Webster
9–15, 5–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1981 Swedish Open England Nora Perry Japan Kimiko Jinnai
Japan Kazuko Takamine
15–6, 15–6 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1981 Welsh International England Karen Chapman Netherlands Marjan Ridder
Netherlands Karin Duijvestijn
15–10, 15–2 1st place, gold medalist(s) Winner
1981 German Open England Karen Chapman England Gillian Gilks
England Paula Kilvington
8–15, 7–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1981 Bell's Open England Karen Chapman England Gillian Gilks
England Nora Perry
7–15, 13–15 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up
1982 Welsh International England Karen Chapman England Nora Perry
England Jane Webster
8–15, 14–17 2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runner-up

References

  1. ^ "Sally worlds of exciting badminton" (PDF). The Official Journal of the Badminton Association of England. June 1980. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  2. ^ Aberdeen Press Wednesday 23 September 1981, page 21
  3. ^ Ross, Louis (October 1981). "Sally the Island bride" (PDF). The Official Journal of the Badminton Association of England. p. 24. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  4. ^ "1982 Athletes". Team England.
  5. ^ "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2019.