Major Badminton sports brand Carlton has taken another step foward to help the UK's best young badminton players by supporting the Richard Vaughan Badminton Academy (RVBA). Carlton take over from Head as the main supporters of the badminton academy for the next three years.

Founder and Head coach Richard Vaughan commented "The new deal with a major badminton brand like Carlton is a great step forward for the Academy, and everyone involved. Carlton have really progressed the past couple of years and I have found their rackets great in testing. This support will find its way down to the young players as well and benefit all involved...

The RVBA’s Sarah Thomas was today confirmed as officially qualified for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. A great achievement for the seventeen year old, adding to her double national title success earlier in the year. This season Sarah has reached the highest rankings of 48 in mixed doubles, 60 in ladies doubles, and 107 in Ladies singles.

Sarah commented “It’s great to be selected for Wales; I have been waiting some time to hear confirmation so now I can concentrate on the hard training that needs to be done to be ready for Delhi. The only negative is that Rachel (Thomas) and I seemed to have missed out in the ladies doubles which is a pity as we must have been awfully close to selection.”

RVBA Head Coach Richard Vaughan "The Commonwealth Games will be a great learning experience for Sarah, and hopefully will give her the experience needed for events later in the year such as the European Junior Championships where she will hopefully be competing for a medal. I am sure India will do a great job with the Games, and as Badminton is a popular sport there it will be a terrific experience for all the team."

With just over 3 months until the start of the 19th Commonwealth Games, all eyes will be fixed on Delhi, who will play host to the Games between 3rd October – 14th October 2010.  The 19th Games will be the largest multisport event held in India's capital city. This year’s Games will be the 2nd time the event has been played in Asia, the last being Kuala Lumpa 1998. Welsh Badminton has had success in past games including Gold at the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpa (Kelly Morgan) and Bonze in Manchester 2002 (Richard Vaughan).

Badminton will run throughout the games from 4th-14th October at Delhi’s Siri Fort Sports Complex alongside the Commonwealth Squash event. 

The Tahiti Badminton International Series 2010 has been planned for 3-5th September.

Part of the Oceania Badmitnon Circuit Event and a world ranking tournament

Prize-money: US$ 10 000

More information can be found here Tahiti Badminton!

Entries will be accepted if submitted through the Member Association of which the player/pair is a member, or on specific authorisation from the Member Association.