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Team Derby,the University of Derby's NBL franchise, have boosted their hopes of regainingthe AJ Bell National Badminton League title by securing the services of threeTeam GB players heading to Rio 2016.

The 2015 AJBell NBL winners have announced the contract extension of captain and GreatBritain's number one men's singles player Rajiv Ouseph.

And theworld number 15 will be joined by two of his Team GB team-mates and doublesspecialists in the shape of Marcus Ellis and LaurenSmith.

Ellis, whowill be partnering Surrey Smashers' Chris Langridge in Brazil, featured forLoughborough Sport in the inaugural AJ Bell NBL 2014/15 campaign but wascontracted to play in Germany last season.

The26-year-old, who alongside Langridge is ranked 20th in the world, told TeamDerby's website: “It'll be great to be in the NBL with Lauren and Raj, who I'mgood friends with, and I think it's fantastic that Team Derby are so wellrepresented in Rio.”

As forSmith, she will be alongside Birmingham Lions' Heather Olver at their first Olympic Games and joins fromLoughborough Sport.

The24-year-old told Team Derby's website: “Heather and I are playing in Canadathis week, we're all feeling really fit and in good shape so it will be nice toput it into practice on court.

“I think theteam atmosphere will be really enjoyable this year, and I love watching Raj andhis flair and Marcus and his speed on court. This will be a great springboardinto the new NBL season.”

At the AJBell NBL Finals Day in May Team Derby exited at the semi-final stage.