Badminton

Ever since badminton's debut on the Games' sports programme, England have been among the headline makers.

The sport, widely regarded as the fastest racquet sport in the world with shuttles travelling at more than 300km/h, has now chalked up 13 successive appearances at the Games. England can claim seven men's and women's singles champions, with a further 16 doubles and mixed doubles titles. Overall, England top the sport's all-time medals table with 33 gold medals.

Badminton first appeared at the 1966 British Empire & Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica, where England faced tough competition from Malaysia. Angela Bairstow and Ursula Smith were in imperious form however and England returned home victorious in the women's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles events - the latter two enjoying all-English finals.

As well as Bairstow and Smith, a whole range of iconic names have taken to the court to represent England. Take Gillian Clark, twice a Games champion and overall an eight-times medallist between 1982 and 1994. Flag bearer at the Delhi 2010 Opening Ceremony Nathan Robertson, Olympic silver medallist in 2004, has ten medals in his collection from representing England at the Games, six from individual events and four from team.

Did you know: In 1970 England secured all three medals in the mixed doubles event, with Derek Talbot and Margaret Boxall winning gold, Roger Mills and Gillian Perrin taking silver, and David Eddy and Sue Whetnall bringing home bronze.

The governing body for England’s badminton team is Badminton England.