TEAM WALES ANNOUNCES 2006 COMMONWEALTH GAMES BADMINTON SQUAD

The Commonwealth Games Council for Wales (CGCW) has today announced the six–strong badminton contingent that have been invited to take their seats on the Melbourne bound plane for the 2006 Commonwealth Games showdown (15-26 March 2006).

They are:

RICHARD VAUGHAN (EC)

MEN’S SINGLES & MIXED DOUBLES

(FROM LLANBRADACH)

MATTHEW HUGHES (EC)

MEN’S DOUBLES

(FROM PENMAENMAWR)

MARTYN LEWIS (EC)

MEN’S DOUBLES & SINGLES

(FROM CAERPHILLY)

KELLY MORGAN (EC)

SINGLES & MIXED DOUBLES

(FROM TONTEG)

JONATHAN MORGAN

MEN’S DOUBLES

(FROM LLANELLI)

JAMES PHILLIPS

MEN’S DOUBLES

(FROM SWANSEA)

* EC – Élite Cymru funded

The line-up includes four Sports Council Wales Élite Cymru members – the lottery funded scheme designed to provide the most highly promising competitors in Wales with the support they need to achieve their potential.

Tonteg star and Welsh number one Kelly Morgan, 30 has resumed full training following the birth of baby boy Ethan in July this year. She has the ultimate aim of reclaiming the Commonwealth gold secured at the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998 but will also compete alongside Richard Vaughan in the mixed doubles.

Vaughan, 27 will also be looking to recapture the form that saw him clinch the bronze medal in the men’s singles at the Manchester Games in 2002. He has recently struggled to overcome a virus which has affected his game since June 2004.

The Welshman and his coach Zhou Junling are however confident that his playing career will bounce back in the right direction once again as he attempts to up the ante in his quest for medals at his third Commonwealth Games.

British number one men’s doubles pairing Martyn Lewis and Matthew Hughes will lead the Welsh charge in Melbourne, strongly backed by James Phillips and Jonathan Morgan.

Team Manager Clyd Davies believes that his badminton battalion has the potential to be the dominant force Down Under:

“We have selected the strongest possible team for the Games – one that will pose a real threat to the rest of the field when they take to courts at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. These athletes have already proved their potential on the world stage. In Kelly we have a previous Commonwealth Champion, in Richard we have a Commonwealth bronze medallist and in Matthew and Martyn we have a doubles duo that has developed the experience to be able to beat the best on their day.”

Chef de Mission for Team Wales M2006, Anne Ellis said:

“I am delighted to welcome the badminton players into Team Wales. We hope they will carry on the good form they have shown on the international circuit over the last few years and they have competitive experience in abundance. The badminton team has achieved so much in previous games and I hope they can continue the tradition and make it another successful Welsh outing.


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