Monday 15 June 2015 21:47, UK
She may not have got her hands on the trophy at the National Badminton League Finals Day, but Jenny Wallwork says she is still proud about helping put the sport back on the map.
With the support of Sky Sports, the first ever NBL season has proved a resounding success and Wallwork, an ever present for Loughborough Sport, insists she has relished being a part of history.
Speaking after winning both of her women’s doubles matches alongside GB Badminton player Chloe Birch on Finals Day, the former world No 5 said: "I think the NBL has had a positive impact.
"It's something different. It's something we haven't done before and I think we really needed something in England to start to get more players involved in the sport because I think as a country we were struggling to do that.
"I think by having this, it gets more people into the sport and it's been exciting, different. All the players have definitely enjoyed playing it."
The five-time national champion won five of her seven NBL fixtures, including all four playing alongside Chloe Birch, in a run that took Loughborough Sport to the Championship Final.
However, despite winning the women’s doubles event in last Sunday’s final it was still mere consolation in a 3-2 defeat to champions, Team Derby.
Wallwork added: “It would have been fantastic to have won the first ever NBL title in the first ever NBL final. It would have been an amazing achievement.
"Loughborough as a team, the ethos and general support from each member of the team has been fantastic, so it would have been nice to have finished with a win."
"We believed we could win, but unfortunately Team Derby were a strong team too."
