England badminton officials and players to explain security-driven withdrawal from worlds

Badminton England to explain worlds withdrawal

LONDON —England badminton officials and players will explain further their reasons for pulling out of the world championships in India.

Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy, performance director Ian Moss and Commonwealth Games champion Nathan Robertson will be among those speaking at a media conference Monday on the decision to fly home from Hyderabad — reportedly because of a terrorist threat from a Pakistan-based Islamic militant group.

Indian police have denied there was a threat and the chief executive of Badminton Scotland thinks England overreacted.

“I don’t necessarily think they’ve made the right decision,” Badminton Scotland’s Anne Smillie told the British Broadcasting Corp. “Certainly our Scottish players and our team manager, who are in Hyderabad, feel confident that security is at its best.”

Security concerns over sports events in South Asia have been heightened since an attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in March at Lahore, Pakistan. Six policemen and a driver were killed in the ambush by heavily armed gunmen. Seven players, an assistant coach and a match official were injured.

In March, two of England’s top badminton players withdrew from the India Open in Hyderabad citing security concerns.

British sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said he will talk over the issue with Indian government officials and that the country intends to support India in its hosting of the Commonwealth Games next year.