Ben Muir, 18, played nineteen senior and junior tournaments over the 2009 season, winning the under-21 Hampshire Open Championships and reaching a string of adult semi-finals.

Points gained in the senior events count towards his junior ranking and have enabled Ben to raise his British senior ranking to 28. This means he will be able to compete in any adult event, and qualify for the senior national badminton championships in March 2010 - an event which features the country’s top 32 players.

“It’s brilliant, and the best thing that’s happened to me in badminton so far.” said Ben when asked about his progress in 2009.

A sports studies student at College, Ben started playing badminton at five, trains six days a week, and puts much of his success down to his coach, Jack Webb, a veteran England player. “He only trains three of us, so the sessions are more focused. The seniors play a more consistent game, while the juniors are flashier. Some juniors struggle with the change of style, but it has suited me. My coach has played on the adult circuit so he’s been able to give me a better grasp of how to handle it.”

Ben, who also hopes to represent Britain at the under 19 European championships next year, admits more funding would make things easier.

“HCE and Rackets Plus have really helped out with sponsorship, and Hampshire County Council have given me a free bus pass, which is useful as I can get to training without having to rely on my parents. But it still costs a lot travelling to tournaments all over the country, and paying for accommodation. At the moment, I’m playing a tournament every week, which means paying £15 entry each time.”

Ben is determined to make a living out of the sport. “My ultimate aim is to make it in the seniors, and get my adult ranking high enough to play at the 2012 Olympics.”

As seen in the News- written by: Alexandra Sage