Badminton is often described as the fastest sport in the Commonwealth Games with the shuttlecock reaching speeds of up to 400km/h, these lightning speed reactions and nimble techniques makes badminton one of the most exciting sports at the Games.
Chris and Gabby Adcock won gold for Team England in the mixed doubles at Glasgow 2014, a title which they retained at the Gold Coast 2018 Games. In 2014, the team won a total of five medals.
Team England have been the best badminton nation in the Commonwealth eight times since its first inclusion in 1966 and lead the all-time medal table.
Chris and Gabby Adcock, retained their title despite competing against fellow Team England competitors, Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith who gave the defending champions the hardest match yet, 67 minutes later a title was claimed with Team England taking gold and silver.
At the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Team England competed in six medal events; singles and doubles for men and women, mixed doubles and the mixed team event.
Team England placed second on the medal table, just narrowly falling behind India with both winning a total of six medals but India grasping one more silver. Team England won two gold, two silver and two bronze.
The speed and intensity of this game makes this the most competitive and compelling racquet sport in the world, which is going to be exhibited at the NEC in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Where everything counts.
Mark is an experienced strategic director with extensive experience (spanning over 25 years) of managing projects, programmes, facilities, people and resources in and with national governing bodies of sport, Sport England/UK Sport, local authorities and the commercial sector.
His proven track record of developing high-performance systems and talent pathways has been invaluable to the Badminton players he leads.
In addition to his Commonwealth Games Team leader role, he has also been a Paralympic Team Leader and deputy Olympic Team Leader.