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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Badminton team defends withdrawal | Badminton team defends withdrawal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The England team has defended its decision to withdraw from the World Badminton Championships in India because of security concerns. | The England team has defended its decision to withdraw from the World Badminton Championships in India because of security concerns. |
| They denied claims they had "overreacted" to a terrorist threat, saying there had not been "appropriate levels of security". | They denied claims they had "overreacted" to a terrorist threat, saying there had not been "appropriate levels of security". |
| Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson said he was "glad to be home in one piece". | Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson said he was "glad to be home in one piece". |
| He said they were travelling on a bus on back roads with no armed guards. | |
| The eight-strong squad pulled out of the tournament, which starts on Monday in Hyderabad, after reports of threats by Muslim extremists Lashkar-e-Taiba. | The eight-strong squad pulled out of the tournament, which starts on Monday in Hyderabad, after reports of threats by Muslim extremists Lashkar-e-Taiba. |
| Badminton Scotland said its players will stay, and Welsh Badminton have three players at the tournament. | Badminton Scotland said its players will stay, and Welsh Badminton have three players at the tournament. |
| Security expectations | Security expectations |
| The England squad arrived home on Sunday night, and players and officials then held a news conference at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes on Monday. | The England squad arrived home on Sunday night, and players and officials then held a news conference at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes on Monday. |
| Their Indian hosts and Scottish colleagues have accused the English team of overreacting by pulling out of the sport's World Championships, the most prestigious competition after the Olympic Games. | Their Indian hosts and Scottish colleagues have accused the English team of overreacting by pulling out of the sport's World Championships, the most prestigious competition after the Olympic Games. |
| We were not particularly impressed with the level of security Adrian Christy, Badminton England | We were not particularly impressed with the level of security Adrian Christy, Badminton England |
| But chief executive of Badminton England, Adrian Christy, said they were disappointed with levels of security. | But chief executive of Badminton England, Adrian Christy, said they were disappointed with levels of security. |
| "I don't think we have overreacted," he said. "We were very clear with our expectations of security before the championships. | "I don't think we have overreacted," he said. "We were very clear with our expectations of security before the championships. |
| "We trained and prepared very hard in Qatar and went to Hyderabad with every intention of being met with appropriate levels of security considering recent attacks that had taken place in the country. | "We trained and prepared very hard in Qatar and went to Hyderabad with every intention of being met with appropriate levels of security considering recent attacks that had taken place in the country. |
| It wasn't a safe place for staff or players Nathan Robertson, England player | |
| "We were not particularly impressed with the level of security we were faced with - both on our arrival and subsequent days as we began our preparation through practice in the arena. " | "We were not particularly impressed with the level of security we were faced with - both on our arrival and subsequent days as we began our preparation through practice in the arena. " |
| He apologised to the International Badminton Federation and the organising committee in India. | |
| "The last thing England would want to do is let down our host or our international federation," he added. | |
| "The decision doesn't affect how we feel about returning to India for the Commonwealth Games next year." | |
| Easy access | |
| Olympic champion Nathan Robertson said there had been a direct threat to the championships and players, and it was not a difficult decision to make. | |
| "(It was) certainly not an overreaction to come home," he said. "It wasn't a safe place for staff or players." | |
| The team's coach, Andy Wood, said basic security measures at the stadium and hotel were not in place. | |
| "Just things like access to the main stadium, there was no accreditation required on the first day," he said. | |
| "You could get into the building relatively easily." |