MAKE SOME NOISE FOR LOUGHBOROUGH SPORT IN THEIR BID FOR THE PLAY-OFFS
S P O R T
LOUGHBOROUGH SPORT
V
MILTON KEYNES @LboroSport @NBL_official #RoadToFinals
WELCOME
WELCOME TO THE
NATIONAL BADMINTON LEAGUE The National Badminton League is a brand new, game-changing opportunity for top-level badminton - the first ever professional national badminton league in the UK. With this in mind, we’ve created you a short guide on what to expect.
The Rules
New Features
• Six franchise teams will face each other once over a regular season – in a mixture of home and away NBL fixtures – between October 2014 and April 2015.
• PowerPlay Point – The serving team has one PowerPlay point each event with the chance to earn double points on any point throughout the match.
• Each match-night fixture will see two teams compete in 5 events, each played to ’best of 5 games’.
• Time-Outs – With no breaks or coaching between games, teams must use their one 45-second time-out wisely!
• Each game will be played to a fast paced ‘first to 9 points’ scoring system, with no extended scoring or need for a clear winning margin.
• In-Play Substitutions – Each team has two reserves on stand-by so injuries won’t lead to forfeited events and instead will allow NBL teams to bring on a substitute.
• If the scoreline reaches 2-2 in games, then a final set tie-breaker will be played to just 5 points, or if a team achieves a clear three point lead. This means a tie-break could be won 3-0 or 4-1.
• 60-Second Warm Ups – Gone are the days of the traditional 2-3 minute knock-ups for the players. The NBL will be fast placed and competitive gameplay will get under way after just 60 seconds warm up in all events.
WHERE HISTORY BEGINS
INTERVIEW
Birch to lead Loughborough play-off charge Balancing books with badminton is a dilemma Chloe Birch is faced with on a daily basis. A Loughborough student and international badminton rising star, Birch has to manage her time well to ensure she meets her own high standards both on the court and in her sports science degree. “Mixing badminton and studying is pretty tough, but I’m in the best place to be to do it. I live in Butler Court, which is just across the road from the Badminton Centre and lectures aren’t far away. It’s difficult, and there isn’t much free time, but I get to do both things that I love. I always wanted to come to Loughborough from a young age, so to now be here studying and putting on the purple shirt is great – I love it!” Coming to the end of her first year of study at Loughborough, it’s crunch time for Birch with exams and the final league match of the season on the horizon. Taking on Milton Keynes Badminton on Monday 27th April, the Loughborough team have the chance to secure a place in the play-offs on Sunday 7th June. “This fixture is so important; we really need to win and get some good games on the board to make sure we qualify for the play-offs. It’s one of the biggest matches of the
season for us! Our main aim as a team has always been to qualify for play-offs. We had a bit of a tricky start to the season but things are picking up now and we all really want to play in the play-offs and challenge to win. Our first match [of the season] was a home fixture and it was really nice playing in Loughborough where family and friends can come and watch; the crowd were really good and they really got behind us. Everyone should come down and cheer us on. It’s good fun to watch, it’s good fun for us to play in and just a really nice evening.” Already achieving individual success around the world, Chloe will again be part of a winning doubles partnership with Commonwealth Games silver and bronze medallist Jenny Wallwork and believes the league is great for her as an athlete. “The standard of the league is really high. You’ve got GB athletes that have played in major championships, foreign athletes who are some of the best in the world and are aiming to qualify for the next Olympics, so it’s a really good thing to be part of as an up-and-coming player. The NBL has really helped my ambitions as an individual player too, as I get to play with top players who I don’t get to play with on an individual basis.” Although already a vital component of the team, coach Mike Adams is keen to stress that Chloe is still a developing player, who’s best years are ahead of her. “Chloe Birch is quite unique to Loughborough, as she’s the only GB programme player not to be training in Milton Keynes, so we’re really pleased to have her here. I’ve known Chloe for about 12 years, so it’s really great to see her here studying at the university and to spotlight her playing in the National Badminton League is fantastic. At the moment Chloe is a developing player, so to be playing with the likes of Lauren Smith and Jenny Wallwork who are already established, world class players and to not look out of place, and win most of her games is testament to the ability she has.” Whether she makes the Rio 2016 Olympics remains to be seen, but what is for sure is that she’ll be doing her utmost to ensure Loughborough secures a place in the National Badminton League play-offs in its inaugural year.
WWW.LOUGHBOROUGHSPORT.COM
LOUGHBOROUGH SPORT TEAM
LOUGHBOROUGH SPORT TEAM PLAYER PROFILES MARCUS ELLIS
JENNY WALLWORK
LINDA ZETCHIRI
HENRI HURSKAINEN
HARLEY TOWLER
PETER BRIGGS (C)
LAUREN SMITH
CHLOE BIRCH
Based: Milton Keynes Event: Men’s/Mixed Doubles Highest World Ranking: 18 Twitter: @ellis_marcus111
Based: Bulgaria Event: Women’s Singles Highest World Ranking: 26
Based: Loughborough & Milton Keynes Event: Men’s/Mixed Doubles Highest World Ranking: 45 Twitter: @harleytowler
Based: Milton Keynes Event: Women’s/Mixed Doubles Highest World Ranking: 24 Twitter: @LaurenE_Smith
GREG MAIRS
Based: Loughborough Event: Men’s Singles Highest World Ranking: 206 Twitter: @gregmairs
Based: Leeds Event: Women’s/Mixed Doubles Highest World Ranking: 5 Twitter: @Jennywallwork
Based: Sweden Event: Men’s Singles Highest World Ranking: 36
Based: Loughborough & Milton Keynes Event: Men’s/Mixed Doubles Highest World Ranking: 53 Twitter: @Peter_Briggsy
Based: Loughborough Event: Women’s Singles, Women’s/ Mixed Doubles Highest World Ranking: 120 Twitter: @Chloebirch95
JENNY MOORE
Based: Loughborough Event: Women’s Doubles Highest World Ranking: 112 Twitter: @jennymoore95
VIKI WILLIAMS
Based: Loughborough Event: Women’s Doubles Highest World Ranking: 112 Twitter: @VikiWilliams1
WWW.LOUGHBOROUGHSPORT.COM
MK BADMINTON TEAM
MK BADMINTON TEAM PLAYER PROFILES PETER MILLS (C)
TOBY PENTY
Event: Men’s Doubles Twitter: @millsyp88
Event: Mixed Doubles Twitter: @TobyPenty
PAUL VAN RIETVELDE
ELIZABETH CANN
Event: Men’s Doubles Twitter: @paul_van_r
Event: Women’s Singles
ALEX LANE
JESS PUGH
Event: Men’s Singles Twitter: @alexlane29
Event: Women’s / Mixed Doubles Twitter: @jessRpugh
FEE TENG LIEW
KIRBY NGAN
Event: Women’s Doubles Twitter: @FeeTengLiew
Event: Women’s Doubles Twitter: @kirby_ngan
WWW.LOUGHBOROUGHSPORT.COM
FIXTURES
E L B A T E U NBL LEAG 1 2 3 4 5 6
P
0
1
13-7
50-33
621-557
3
0
12-8
45-36
591-556
2
2
2 1 2 2
0 0 0 0
2 3 2 2
10-10 9-11 9-11 7-13
40-39 39-41 36-42 29-48
539-512 571-538 507-550 476-592
Surrey Smashers University of Nottingham Team Derby t Loughborough Spor Birmingham Lions
13
4
12
4
MK Badminton
Pts
D
Pts
10 9 9 7
Games Played
W
Team
Pos
Events Played
L
4 4 4 4
...
ualify if q l il w t r o p S h g ughborou
Lo
port win 5-0. e 4 1. Loughborough S rt win 4-1 and Birmingham Lions scor po 2. Loughborough S rey Smashers. e 3 or Sur or less points v rt win 3-2 and Birmingham Lions scor po 3. Loughborough S y Smashers. e 2 or less. re less points v Sur rt lose 2-3 and Birmingham Lions scor d Team an po 4. Loughborough S rt win 4-1, Birmingham Lions win 5-0 po 5. Loughborough S ss v University of Nottingham. le Derby score 2 or ed to
sult will first be us re d ea -h -to ad he e th which l on league points, ons 4-1 last month Li am gh in If 2 teams are equa rm Bi at be However, hborough Sport am’s league points. gh in decide the tie. Loug rm Bi ch at m to ough need Derby and University am Te , rs he as means that Loughbor Sm ey rr t’s losses against Su . Loughborough Spor ead on league points ah be to ed ne e w that of Nottingham mean WHERE HISTORY BEGINS
.
.. S E INU
S P O R T
T N O EC
L T T A EB
TH
5 1 0 2 ICS
H HLET G U O L AT R O B IONA K U H E G H LOUERNAT TAKE ON T GH U INT O R BO
GH LOU
At Paula Radcliffe Athletics Stadium
SUNDAY 17TH MAY 2015 Event starts 11.30am
8
£5 Staff
Stu
ns £
ssio once
0C
2.5 £ s t den
lts £ u d A 5
loughboroughsport.com/lia2015
WHERE HISTORY BEGINS
ORDER OF PLAY Loughborough Sport
V
MK Badminton
Marcus Ellis & Lauren Smith
V
Toby Penty & Jess Pugh
Women’s Doubles
Jenny Wallwork & Chloe Birch
V
Fee Teng Liew & Kirby Ngan
Men’s Singles
Henri Hurskainen
V
Alex Lane
Women’s Singles
Linda Zetchiri
V
Elizabeth Cann
Men’s Doubles
Peter Briggs & Harley Towler
V
Paul van Rietvelde & Peter Mills
Mixed Doubles
Reserves Jenny Moore, Greg Mairs, Viki Williams, Farid Akroum, George Isherwood
Get involved with Loughborough Sport Loughboroughsport.com/NBL @lborosport
S P O R T
LoughboroughSport