‘We’re targeting 2030 Commonwealth Games,’ says new badminton president
NEW Guernsey Badminton Association president John Cook is sanguine at the news that the sport will miss out on the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Given all the doubts concerning these scaled-down Commonwealths, he revealed that the association had already taken a longer-term vision towards the 2030 edition.
‘For this particular Commonwealth Games ... I don’t think we could’ve had enough players,’ Cook said.
‘Our focus was always going to be on the one following.
‘My understanding is that because of the way in which Australia pulled out and Scotland has stepped in, the number of sports was going to be lower – we were not particularly concerned about this particular Commonwealth Games.’
Guernsey had sent four-player teams to each of the three most recent Commonwealths.
A regular among them, Elena Johnson had racked up an impressive six Commonwealths appearances.
Cook has highlighted the island’s history at this level, together with the success of Paul Le Tocq – who had looked beyond representing Guernsey at the Commonwealths – at international-level events for veterans.
Looking to future Commonwealths, he admitted: ‘We need more players like Paul.’
‘We’ve had quite a number of players play at Commonwealth Games level in the past and do well. We want to replicate that in the future.
‘This break has given us the opportunity to identify and target future Commonwealth Games.
‘Our emphasis is going to be in regard to the experienced players we currently have, but also the junior players, and not going in with one or two people qualifying. What we need to do is get four, five, six players qualifying for the Commonwealth Games.’
