I read this article and I think it is great to see Anthony targeting the London 2012 Olympics.

Derby born badminton star Anthony Clark has no plans to follow former mixed doubles partner Donna Kellogg into retirement just yet.

Kellogg, from Spondon, called time on her international career at the end of last year.

Her decision marked the end of her successful partnership with Clark but he remains set on competing at the 2012 Olympics in London.

The 32-year-old is a couple of months older than Kellogg but, fitness permitting, he fully intends to continue his men's doubles partnership with Nathan Robertson.

And he has a new mixed doubles partner in 23-year-old Heather Olver.

Their first tournament will be the Proton Malaysia Open, which starts on January 19.

"I am still loving it and training as hard as ever, if not more so," said Clark.

"I'm not getting any younger and, as you get older, you have to train harder and smarter than before.

"I'm enjoying myself and I've got every intention to carry on until London 2012.

"Whether than will be in the men's doubles, mixed or both remains to be seen.

"The motivation is still there and Nathan says he feels the same.

"Neither of us are getting any younger (Robertson is also 32), so we will take it a year at a time.

"We have got the Commonwealth Games this year, in October, so we will evaluate again after that.

"If I didn't think I could still be successful, I would stop.

"I am not just hanging on in there – I want to be winning tournaments and picking up medals.

"We have done it before and there is no reason why we can't do it again, as long as we can stay healthy and fit.

"When I have got no chance of doing that, I will say 'enough is enough' and I'm sure the same goes for Nathan."

Clark admitted that the lure of London 2012 was a big incentive to keep playing at the top level.

"I think there are a lot of athletes who would retire before 2012 if not for the fact that the Olympics are in London," he said.

"I don't think I would have planned to carry on until the age of 34, which is how old I will be in 2012.

"It is definitely an extra incentive and something that spurs me on."

Clark paid tribute to Kellogg, with whom he won a string of honours.

The pair were crowned European champions in 2008 and won silver at the World Championships in 2006.

They won the 2006 Denmark Open, were national champions for three years running in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and reached a string of other major finals.

They also competed together at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Donna is one of the most – or possibly the most – professional player I've ever had the pleasure to work with," said Clark.

"We are from the same mould and both wanted success very badly. We worked very hard and that is why we were successful.

"It was a great partnership and a great friendship over the years.

"It was fitting that her last matches were with me, as we played our first matches for England together at the age of 14.

"She achieved everything she wanted to achieve and decided it was the right time to retire.

"Of course you love what you are doing but at the end of the day, badminton is a game and is not the be all and end all."

Clark is now hoping to pass on some of his experience to the next generation of English badminton players.

"Myself and Nathan are the elder statesman of the England team," he said.

"There is a big gap between us and the next group of players – nearly a decade, in fact. There have been a lot of retirements in the past few years, so we are the last of our era.

"I am always willing to give advice to help the younger players. I'm not afraid of them becoming better than me.

"I want English badminton to be the best in the world and I will have no problem stepping aside when the next generation are too good for me."