BADMINTON England responded positively to today’s UK Sport’s Funding Review in which awards are based on realistic medal prospects.

Badminton suffered an expected slight reduction following the retirement of Athens silver medallist Gail Emms and, most recently, European champion Donna Kellogg, England’s two most experienced women players.

But the sport still received £7.97million for the four years through to 2013 and BADMINTON England Chief Executive Adrian Christy still remained upbeat with less than 1,000 days to go to London 2012, especially with the exciting young talent coming through.

He said: “We are all aware of the difficult economic climate and are therefore pleased to have received a confirmed figure through the Olympic period which now allows us to fully focus on preparing for the Games. 
 
“We are also pleased to have received the full backing of UK Sport who clearly appreciate the potential we have to deliver medal success in the years to come, which truly recognises the talent we have on our programme. Our funding adjustment was always likely to reflect the loss of podium stars like Donna, who last week followed Gail into retirement.

“We are now fully focused on developing our emerging young stars like Chris Adcock, Gabby White and Jenny Wallwork, who continue to take enormous inspiration from experienced winners like Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark.

“With funding assured through to 2013,  BADMINTON England are now in a position to properly manage their aspirations over this vital next phase for the sport with a World Championships in London in 2011 and the Olympic Games in 2012.”