The champion in 2005, Cann is considered one of the favourites for the ladies’ singles title especially with last year’s winner Tracey Hallam absent following ankle surgery.
Her biggest challenge will therefore come from 2006 runner-up, and the person responsible for knocking the former Beaulieu student out of last year’s event, Jill Pittard.
While Cann identified Pittard as her biggest threat, the 27-year old could also be tested by Grand Finals winner Michelle Cheung and 1998 finalist Rebecca Pantaney who has come out of retirement for the event.
Cann, who in December was ranked eighth in England, travels this week to the Swedish International in Stockholm which will be her final competition before the nationals.
Looking ahead to the Manchester competition, Cann said: ‘I’m feeling fine and I’m looking forward to it – obviously I want to reach the final and regain the title and I think I’ve got a good chance.’ However, one issue that is yet to be cleared up is whether Cann will represent Jersey, or if it will be the team she has played county badminton for this season, Middlesex? Chris Miller of the national governing body Badminton England explained: ‘Because Elizabeth has played for Middlesex this season, if she now represents Jersey, her performances this season for the English side will be null and void and Middlesex will be penalised.
They are both counties, as such, and are both involved in county badminton so Elizabeth cannot represent both of them.
‘This isn’t a situation we have experienced before but as a national governing body we have to maintain standards and regulations – we can’t have players picking and choosing who they play for.’ While Elizabeth has confirmed that she would like to represent Jersey now that she has moved away from Middlesex, the issue is obviously a delicate one but is expected to be cleared up in the coming week.
One player who will certainly represent Jersey and challenge in the ladies’ singles is Solenn Pasturel who stormed up the English rankings in December, rising from 21st to 12th.
The former Hautlieu student will be hoping to better last year’s performance in which she reached round two of the event.
Jersey could also be represented in the ladies’ doubles by Mariana Agathangelou, who will pose a major threat if she performs as she did throughout 2006, undeniably her best year to date.
However, she is currently hampered by a knee injury and it is still not certain whether she will compete.
Suffering from tendonitis, the 18-year-old former Jersey College for Girls student will, if she recovers in time, be paired with Gabby White and could face top seeds and European champions, Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg who, without doubt, pose the greatest threat.
The 18-year-old former Jersey College for Girls student said: ‘I’m only getting in one hour of practice every other day so it’s undecided whether I’ll be playing; however we’ve caught the problem early and although it is serious, we are keeping it under control.
‘If I do enter and although I won’t be as confident or prepared as I could be, I’ll give it my best shot and, after our win in the élite finals, I think we’ve got a good chance.’ The three-day competition gets under way at The Velodrome in Manchester between 2 and 4 February.
