Latest news from Loughborough University
24 Sep 2014
Loughborough Sport to compete in new National Badminton League
Loughborough Sport will be competing in the new National Badminton League (NBL) – the UK’s first ever professional national league - which starts this autumn.
The game-changing NBL begins on 6th October 2014 and matches will be televised live on Sky Sports, as well as globally to over 10 million homes in 16 countries via Eurosport Asia-Pacific. Matches will also be streamed live on the Internet.
The league matches will include a new game format, unique scoring system and dynamic in-game features.
Loughborough Sport is one of six teams in the league and will be in action for the first time against Team Derby on 3rd November in a televised home fixture at the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall.
The Loughborough Sport team contains a blend of international and national players, alongside graduates and current students.
Henri Hurskainen, who represented Sweden at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Linda Zetchiri, the Bulgarian number 1, have been recruited to add international experience to the men’s and women’s singles events.
In the doubles events Commonwealth Games medallists Lauren Smith and Jenny Wallwork will be joined by England international player Marcus Ellis.
Graduates Peter Briggs and Harley Towler, members of the BADMINTON England performance programme and BUCS men’s doubles gold medallists during their time at Loughborough, are also part of the squad.
They are joined by current students Chloe Birch, who received her first senior England call up in February 2014, as well as Greg Mairs, Viki Williams and Jenny Moore.
Alan Buzza, Franchise Manager for the Loughborough Sport Badminton team said:
“I am delighted that Loughborough Sport will be competing in the first ever National Badminton League. We are proud of our reputation for sporting excellence and hope to compete strongly at the top of the league.
“I very much hope that our students, fellow staff and the local community will come and support our new team. It’s a great opportunity to watch some of the best national and international badminton players in action.”
Tickets are now on general sale with prices starting at £8 for adults and £5 for children. Full ticket details and fixtures can be found at:
http://tickets.sky.com/Badminton/?DCMP=ext-LboroSport-NBL
Notes for editors
Article reference number: PR 14/168
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. Loughborough is ranked in the top fifteen of UK universities and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.
Contact for all media enquiries
Rob Knott
PR Officer (Sport)
Marketing and Communications
Loughborough University
T: 01509 228686
E: R.A.Knott@lboro.ac.uk