ORPINGTON Junior Badminton Club and Parklangley Club have been successful in their joint application to Badminton England for performance centre status.

Performance centres are being created through the country in order to create a hub of badminton activity for players and coaches to progress within the sport to achieve their full potential.

Bromley is the only club in Kent to achieve this status and is one of only 15 in England at present.

The investment in the Bromley Performance Centre by Badminton England will be £30,000 over the next three years.

This funding will allow OJs and Park Langley to provide the environment and opportunities needed so the best young players can be encouraged to progress up through the ranks at club, county and international level.

One of the aims of Badminton England is to make England the world’s number one playing nation by 2016.

The pivotal role performance centres will play includes linking with schools and other clubs in the community to identify talented youngsters and to offer them a quality environment which develops not only players, but also coaches, officials and volunteers.

This is a very exciting opportunity for junior badminton players in Bromley.

For more information on the Bromley Performance Centre or junior player opportunities within both junior badminton clubs, please contact Paul Parham at Orpington on paulparham@orpingtonjuniors.com, or Jason Large at Parklangley on jason.large66@hotmail.co.uk