Badminton England expressed "deep disappointment" on Tuesday as they announced they were pulling out of the prestigious World Mixed Team Championships (Sudirman Cup) because of the withdrawal of Olympic funding. There was shock that badminton was included last December in the sports to be stripped of their Olympic funding by UK Sport because they came back from the Rio Olympics with a men's doubles bronze medal.
Badminton England - who oversee Britain's Olympic programme - have already made several people redundant. However, on Tuesday it was decided further savings could be made by not sending a team to the event on Australia's Gold Coast, where the 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held. "It is with deep disappointment that we have had to withdraw the England team from participating at the Sudirman Cup," said Badminton England performance director Jon Austin. The Badminton World Federation says England's place will be taken by Germany.