BEIJING - Twice champion Gao Ling was eliminated in the first round of the badminton mixed doubles at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Tuesday.

Gao Ling (L) and Zheng Bo of China reach for a shot during their mixed doubles round of 16 badminton match against Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms of Britain at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 12, 2008. [Agencies]

Gao, who won the event in the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games with Zhang Jun, was stopped along with her new partner Zheng Bo by British duo Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson, the silver medalists at the Athens Olympic Games.

Emms and Robertson, who lost to Gao and Zhang in the finals of the Athens Games, won 16-21, 21-16, 19-21.

"I am a lit bit sorry that I failed to win a third Olympic gold, " said Gao after the match. "We could have done better given more time to improve our cooperation."

Gao and Zheng were matched together in 2006, just three weeks before they won the title at the Asian Games.

The British pair hugged each other after their victory. When commenting on turning round the third game from losing to a winning position, Emms said, "They were just shaking a bit and Nathan hit some great smashes.

Robertson said they could be the world's best pair if they play well in the coming rounds.