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NBL impact on badminton is crazy - Wolfenden
It's crazy what the NBL has done to badminton!
That is the assessment of Surrey Smashers' TomWolfenden as he prepares for the return of the National Badminton League on 2November.
Wolfenden,who played three times for the Smashers in the NBL's debut season winning twice,admits he can't wait to get stuck into the action again when Sky Sports cameras broadcast the new season opener against MKBadminton at Surrey Sports Park.
With Surrey Smashers desperate to get back towinning ways after the surprise 5-0 Play-Off whitewash against LoughboroughSport, Wolfenden will be hoping to be named in Hayley Adcock's starting eightwith another electric night of NBL badminton expected at Surrey Sports Park.
He said "Growing up it's what I wantedto do, play in front of a big home crowd, and now at Surrey we're gettingaround 1,000 people, packed in that venue. It's so loud every time we win a point. It's great to be a part of.
“It's really exciting for the sportto be selling out, but it's crazy what's happening in badminton," headded.
"The format takes a bit ofgetting used to but its a new challenge. With the new scoring system beingshorter it makes every point so important. For spectators it makes the game exciting, because it doesn't go on too long, and the PowerPlay is a bit different as well.
"You have to think and play verytactically, and anything can happen, so you go into every match believing youcan win".
The Liverpool born star will go into match-night 1 eager to repeat the opening night victory he enjoyed last year when he paired Gabby Adcock to a mixed doubles win in the 4-1 victory away in Milton Keynes.
"We won comfortably against MK last season butits going to be a challenge again. We can't expect it to be comfortableagain so we have to go into it with an open mindset. We know we have toperform as a team and individually.
"For spectators it makes thegame exciting, because it doesn't go on too long, and the PowerPlay is a bitdifferent as well."
Book your seat for Surrey Smashers v MK Badminton on 2 November
