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.”

The Malaysia Star has just announced that Lin Dan has made a dramatic last imnute entrance into the Malaysian Open.

“Olympic men’s singles badminton champion Lin Dan (pic) has entered for the Malaysian Open to be held at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil from Jan 19-24 in a bid to capture one of the two Super Series title to elude him so far.

The top Chinese shuttlers were conspiciously absent from last year’s Malaysian Open and the Super Series Masters Finals in Johor Baru earlier this month but China have decided to turn out in force for the second Super Series event after the Korea Open.

The only notable absentees from the Chinese squad are world champions Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun.

All top four Chinese singles players – Lin Dan, Chen Jin, Bao Chunlai and Chen Long, were in the preliminary list of entries released by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) yesterday.

If Lin Dan and the top Chinese shuttlers live up to their words, their presence here will be a boost to the organisers in terms of ticket sales. [..]

Various news reports are saying that Taufik Hidayat has spoken strongly in favour of the Indian Star, Saina Nehwal.

Badminton giant Taufik Hidayat is of the view that Olympian Saina Nehwal’s performances in the international meets have come “as a breath of fresh air” in a sport which is being dominated by the Chinese.

The former world champion whose is presently ranked third in the world seemed quite pleased with the present badminton scenario in the country. “ India has a bright future in badminton. Particularly, Saina has been performing commendably in the international arena. It was really nice to see her win the Indonesian Open earlier this year. I am happy that the young talent is rising at a time when China is dominating. It is time that India and Indonesia should become strong enough to beat the Chinese talent.”

He said that it would be very encouraging for Indian badminton if Saina is able to, “ maintain her form and even increase her talent on court.”

The Hindustan Times is reporting that Saina Nehwal, India’s badminton sensastion has spoken out about the lack of training options in India.

The Hindustan Times reports that “Saina Nehwal’s presence always brings hype and glitz to a badminton event, and she seems to enjoy it.

But, here in Lucknow for the Syed Modi International Grand Prix tournament, the World No. 7 is keeping herself focussed on the task at hand and working on a new plan to improve her game. Saina’s attention now is on improving her defence as it has let her down a number of times at the international level.

“Though I am good at the nets, I sometimes feel my defence is weak,’’ Saina told Hindustan Times after finishing her workout with fellow shuttler P. Kashyap on Tuesday.

“The 2010 Commonwealth Games now tops my agenda, although I have also set other goals like doing well in the Asian Games (at Guangzhou) and the (2012) Olympic Games. I know I have to work hard and also guard against injuries,” she added.

“I have to overcome my weaknesses as the next few years are very important,” said Saina, the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament this year.

Appreciating the support she has received from the masses, Saina said that it was a good sign as corporate houses and government were lending support to badminton players.

She, however, emphasised the need for establishing badminton academies in the north much like the centres in Hyderabad and Bangalore.

“Northern India has good talent but there is no proper training centre for badminton, tennis and table tennis.”

The only Indian woman to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympic Games, Saina’s advise to the young generation is to take up badminton seriously.”