AFP has reported that the nation of England has threatened not to atend the 2010 CommonWealth Games.

“England is seriously considering pulling out of next year’s Commonwealth Games in India over fears its athletes will be victims of a terrorist attack, according to a report.

Police and security advisers fear the England team will be targeted by Pakistani militants and feel the safety of athletes cannot currently be guaranteed, the Daily Telegraph said, quoting unnamed sources.

It would be the first time that England has not competed in the 80-year history of the Games, to be held in New Delhi in October.

Responding to the report, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it “has not advised any of the British teams” against competing in the Games.

“We are aware that the Commonwealth Games Federation had some concerns about preparations for the Games,” it added in a statement Wednesday.

“We continue to work closely with the Indian authorities who are doing everything they can to ensure a safe and secure Games.”

The report comes after the England badminton team pulled out of the world championships in India in August, saying security in the host city of Hyderabad was lax, and sparking criticism that they were overreacting.

Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, visited the Indian capital earlier this month to inspect the Games sites and was said to have voiced “serious concerns” about the security arrangements, the newspaper said.

“If you are an English athlete there is no way you are going to want to risk your life competing at the Games,” a source was quoted as saying.

“We currently cannot see any way that England will be able to send a team to Delhi next year,” the source added.

A spokeswoman for the English Commonwealth Games told the newspaper that the security situation was being monitored, and a final decision on whether to take part will be made next year.

“We take guidance from the Metropolitan Police. We can?t make a judgment until nearer the time. We have had briefings on security and we will decide when we know what the terror threat is going to be like,” she said.

Concern of an attack on England’s athletes apparently stems from Britain’s role in the international conflict against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The perceived risk of foreign sports stars being targeted in South Asia has increased since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan, in March.

Six policemen and two civilians were killed and seven Sri Lankan squad members were wounded in the assault as the team travelled to a Test match.

Militant attacks in Mumbai last November that killed 166 people have also added to anxiety about teams travelling to India.

Concerns are also mounting in India over delays on the construction of venues for the Games, which involve 6,000 international athletes competing in 17 sports.”

The Malaysia Star ruthlessly dismissed their hometown participants in the Copenhagen Masters as the following story was reported,

“National back-up shuttler Chong Wei Feng bowed out with a whimper in his debut appearance in the Copenhagen Masters after losing his second and last match in Group A against top Dane Peter-Gade Christensen in Frederiksburg on Sunday.

He was beaten 7-21, 11-21 in just 27 minutes by the defending champion. Earlier, he also crashed to a tame 14-21, 13-21 defeat by Dutchman Dicky Palyama. Christensen should beat Palyama next to book a place in the final.

It was also a dampener from the other Malaysians in action on Sunday evening.

The men’s pair of Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong were beaten 16-21, 16-21 by top Danes Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen in 34 minutes.

Lydia Cheah, who is also making her first appearance in the Masters, was outclassed by Danish No. 1 Tine Rasmussen in a women’s singles match. She was beaten 15-21, 10-21 in 27 minutes.

However, Hee Chun-Wee Kiong and Lydia still have a chance to contest the final if they overcome their next opponents.

Hee Chun-Wee Kiong will take on defending champions Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen, who defeated Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan 21-12, 21-18.

Lydia has the tough task of getting the better of Holland’s top women’s singles player Yao Jie, who slogged to beat Ella Diehl of Russia 19-21, 21-16, 21-14 on Sunday.”

ClearOne Badminton Centre – Leslie

Dec 24, 2009   Thu        CLOSED

Dec 25, 2009   Fri          CLOSED

Dec 26, 2009   Sat         1:00pm – 11:00pm

Dec 27, 2009   Sun        10:00am – 10:00pm

(Drop-In $4.00 from 10:00am to 2:00pm or 2:00pm to 6:00pm)

Dec 28, 2009   Mon       9:00am – 10:00pm

Dec 29, 2009   Tue        9:00am – 10:00pm

Dec 30, 2009   Wed       9:00am – 11:00pm

Dec 31, 2009   Thu        CLOSED

Jan 1, 2010      Fri          CLOSED

ClearOne Badminton Centre – Browngate (ClearTwo)

Dec 24, 2009   Thu       9:00am – 1:00pm

Dec 25, 2009   Fri         CLOSED

Dec 26, 2009   Sat         CLOSED for Tournament

Dec 27, 2009   Sun       CLOSED for Tournament

Dec 28, 2009   Mon      5:00pm-11:00pm

Dec 29, 2009   Tue        10:00am – 11:00pm

Dec 30, 2009   Wed      5:00pm – 11:00pm

Dec 31, 2009   Thu        9:00am – 5:00pm

Jan 1, 2010      Fri          9:00am – 5:00pm