The nation’s top badminton talent is set to return to the Manchester Velodrome, from 5th to 7th February for the English National Badminton Championships, which will see Sydney Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson gunning for a third successive men’s doubles title with close friend Anthony Clark, and his sixth overall.

Tickets for the weekend extravaganza, which is traditionally staged a week earlier, are available from www.nationalbadmintonchamps.co.uk or by calling theticketfactory.com on 0844 5811424.

With Mixed and Women’s doubles Champion Donna Kellogg having recently announced her retirement, the sport’s Olympic hopefuls will be queuing up to stake their claim for the sought after places to represent Team GB at London 2012.

Gabby White and Jenny Wallwork are two players looking to step up to the challenge of filling the space left by Donna Kellogg’s retirement. England’s number one all-female pairing who are ranked No.22 in the World, have shown great promise this season with encouraging results including their recent victory over French Open sixth seeds, Sheny Puspa Irawati and Meiliana Jauhari of Indonesia, to make the quarter finals.

Elsewhere in the competition, Men’s Singles Champion Rajiv Ouseph will be looking to make it a third straight victory in Manchester having beaten Carl Baxter 21-16, 21-15 in the 2009 event to position himself as likely top seed for 2010.

2009 Champions are as follows:
Men’s Singles – Rajiv Ouseph
Women’s Singles – Jill Pittard
Men’s Doubles – Anthony Clark & Nathan Robertson
Women’s Doubles – Donna Kellogg & Suzanne Rayappan
Mixed Doubles – Anthony Clarke & Donna Kellogg

With a wealth of top young talent looking to establish themselves on the national and international stage there has never been a better time to watch the country’s best players competing on home soil, and with tickets for the Championships starting at just £8 for adults, the tournament makes the perfect stocking filler for Christmas.

With the tournament attracting almost 150 players from around the country, it will be a tough task to retain the sport’s most prestigious domestic title and the North-West’s badminton fans will have front row seats to all the action in Manchester.

Ticket details:
Prices – Full / BE Member / U16 & OAP

Friday 5th February – 10.00am to 10.00pm
£8 / £6 / £4

Saturday 6th February (Session 1) – 10.00am to 5.00pm
£10 / £8 / £5

Saturday 6th February (Session 2) – 6.00pm to 10.00pm
£10 / £8 / £5

Sunday 7th February (Finals) – 1.00pm Manchester Junior Event / 2.00pm Championship Finals
Premium: £14 / £12 / n/a
Standard: £12 / £10 / £6

The 2010 English National Badminton Championships take place from 5th to 7th February at Manchester Velodrome, Sportcity. For more information please visit www.nationalbadmintonchamps.co.uk or to purchase tickets call theticketfactory.com on 0844 5811424.