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AJ Bell NBL badminton stars selected for Rio Olympics

 

Fansof the AJ Bell National Badminton League will see plenty of familiar faces whenthey watch Team GB take on the world's biggest names at the Rio 2016Olympic Games.

Thismorning Team GB named an eight-strong squad for Brazil later this summerand six of those featured in the innovative AJ Bell NBL last season.

Itis the first time since the Athens 2004 Olympic Games that Britainhas representation across all five disciplines and follows a year-longqualification period that ended in May.

Universityof Nottingham Badminton captain Chris Adcock and his wife Gabby Adcock ,who plays for Surrey Smashers, will compete in the mixed doubles afterfinishing 2015 on a high with victory at the BWF World Superseries Finals inDubai in December.

ChrisAdcock, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 with Gabby, made hisOlympic debut at London 2012 alongside Imogen Bankier.

ChrisAdcock said: “I am really excited now it has been announced that we are membersof Team GB for Rio.

“Wehave a full quota in Rio in the badminton and this is the first time that wehave had Rio on our tops and it is really exciting. It is a good feeling rightnow.

“Iam as excited now as I was before London 2012 and it is such a special thing togo to any Olympic Games."

Gabbyadded: "Now it has been announced, it is starting to feel real and thereis a massive buzz around the National Badminton Centre and we are lookingforward to it.

“Tobe able to experience Rio with my husband is a massive dream. After missing outon London 2012, there was no way I was going to miss Rio."

Inthe men's singles, eight-time English National champion and Team Derbycaptain Rajiv Ouseph is also set for his second Games appearance aftercompeting at London 2012.

Ousephsaid: “I'm very happy to be selected for Team GB. It was a long, tough year interms of tournaments but I'm just happy that's over and now I can concentrateon actually competing.”

MarcusEllis , who is due to return to the AJ Bell NBL next season havingplayed for Loughborough Sport in the 2014/15 campaign, and SurreySmashers' Chris Langridge go in the men's doubles.

Langridge said:"The Olympics is the biggest thing in badminton. I started playing at theage of ten so to be selected for Team GB is what I've been workingtowards for 21 years.”

TeamGB's representation in the women's doubles comes in the shape ofBirmingham Lions' Heather Olver and Lauren Smith of LoughboroughSport.

Smith said:"To be selected for Team GB is an absolute dream come true. It's been areally tough journey and to actually be going is pretty crazy."

"Tobe selected for Team GB means absolutely everything,” Olver added.

"It'sbeen a hectic year trying to qualify and I'm really pleased we're going toRio."

Scotland's KirstyGilmour , who recently reached a career-high 15th in the world rankings,completes the squad in the women's singles.

TeamGB have won two medals in badminton since its inclusion as a full-medal sportin 1992 – with Simon Archer and Joanne Goode taking bronze at Sydney 2000 andGail Emms and Nathan Robertson winning silver four years later in Athens.

Theselected athletes are:

RajivOuseph, 29, Hounslow (men's singles) 

Kirsty Gilmour, 22, Bellshill (women's singles)

GabbyAdcock, 25, Leeds (mixed doubles)

ChrisAdcock, 27, Nottingham (mixed doubles) 

Chris Langridge, 31, Epsom (men's doubles)

MarcusEllis, 26, Huddersfield (men's doubles) 

Lauren Smith, 24, Carlisle (women's doubles)

HeatherOlver, 30, Eastbourne (women's doubles)

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