European mixed doubles champion Anthony Clark is to team up with 23-year-old Eastbourne player Heather Olver in a new partnership following the retirement of Donna Kellogg.

The new pair’s first tournament will be the Proton Malaysia Open from January 19-26.

Olver, a Bath University graduate, earned her chance after winning the Norwegian International last month and the Belgian International in September with Marcus Ellis.

Earlier in the year she won the Austrian International and finished runner-up at the Swedish International with Rob Adcock.

In women’s doubles she won the Irish International just over a week ago with another Team Bath star, Mariana Agathangelou.

Badminton England today also confirmed that Robert Blair has now fully recovered from injury and will team up again with Chris Adcock for the 2010 campaign, starting with the Victor Korean Open from January 12-17.

GB and BADMINTON England Performance Director Ian Moss said: “Anthony and Heather will be in the team competing in the Malaysian Super Series event in January and then an appropriate competition schedule and performance targets will be set through to the completion of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

“The creation of this new partnership reafffirms Anthony’s commitment to maintain a mixed and men’s doubles programme into the future and allows the opportunity for another very talented younger player to gain valuable experience at the highest level of international badminton.”

Moss also confirmed that the Blair-Adcock partnership will continue, adding: “Following Robert’s successful recovery from injury, this partnership has been reaffirmed through to the Commonwealth Games.

“This now allows Andrew Ellis and Dean George to resume their competition programme, which was interrupted by the injury to Blair.

“Following the 2010 Commonwealth Games, all athlete partnerships will be reviewed by the GB Coaches and Performance Director with an eye to creating the strongest partnerships possible for the lead-up to the 2012 Olympic qualification process and Olympic Games themselves.”

Squad for Victor Korean Open (January 12-17):

Men’s singles: Andrew Smith (Hants), Rajiv Ouseph (Middx), Carl Baxter (Avon).

Men’s doubles: Chris Adcock (Notts) & Robert Blair (Leics).

Women’s doubles: Jenny Wallwork & Gabby White (both Yorks).

Mixed doubles: Chris Adcock & Gabby White.

Squad for Proton Malaysia Open (January 19-24):

Men’s singles: Andrew Smith, Rajiv Ouseph, Carl Baxter.

Men’s doubles: Nathan Robertson & Anthony Clark (both Notts),
Chris Adcock & Robert Blair.

Women’s doubles: Jenny Wallwork & Gabby White.

Mixed doubles: Nathan Robertson & Jenny Wallwork, Chris Adcock & Gabby White, Anthony Clark & Heather Olver (Sussex).