Hip Op Hurray As Badminton Ace Takes World Title

When she was told she needed a new hip, Irish badminton ace Sian Williams feared her sporting career might be at an end.

But, almost three years to the day after her operation, Sian won the Masters World Doubles Championship in Turkey and is now looking forward to a very busy 2014.

Doctors had warned Dublin-based Sian that her damaged hip could well signal the end of her competing at the highest level.

But, as many of her opponents will testify, Sian is a fighter and was determined to prove the experts wrong. After researching various treatments someone told her about the work of Birmingham surgeon Derek McMinn and his Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) procedure.

"One consultant told me that if he operated I would be pain free but he could not guarantee me returning to play badminton which I was not happy about.

"When I met Mr McMinn he explained things very carefully and I was confident he was my best hope of a return to competitive sport," said Sian.

And return she certainly did. Sian and long-time partner Pam Peard won a number of National Masters events in the 2011/2012 season before setting their sights on the World Masters Championships in Turkey where they won the Over 50s title.

"That really was the highlight of my career," said Sian. "To win a world title is one thing but to come back from a hip operation made it extra special."

"The operation went very well and afterwards I obeyed all the rehabilitation rules and took things very slowly at first, gradually building up to swimming and cycling and then to gym work and the badminton.

"I was back on court and after ten months and in a year I was back to full fitness and ready to compete.

"I can't thank Mr McMinn enough. He not only gave me the ability to get back to full fitness but also the confidence to push myself to the levels I needed to reach to challenge for a world title."