The world’s best players will return to the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships in 2016 as the race to qualify for the Rio Olympics intensifies.

Tickets for the 106^th Championships go on general sale today (15 July) giving fans the opportunity to watch the world’s best compete for badminton’s most prestigious title as well as precious Olympic qualification points.

All the speed, drama and passion will be returning to Birmingham’s stunning Barclaycard Arena from 8-13 March, 2016.

The YONEX All England is the oldest tournament in world badminton and is one of the five ‘major’s of the sport – a MetLife BWF Superseries Premier event.

Our home ‘grand slam’ is considered the most prestigious – the jewel in the crown on the international badminton calendar.

With qualification for the Olympic Games ending on 1 May, 2016, spectators will have the chance to watch history in the making as all the world’s top players battle it out for a place at Rio.

History shows that success at the YONEX All England is replicated at the Olympics - the winners and runners-up of the singles events went on to win the gold and silver respectively at London 2012.

China’s double Olympic champion and five-time YONEX All England winner Lin Dan will be hoping to show he is still among the world’s best but will face competition from world number one and defending champion Chen Long, as well as Malaysia’s former champion Lee Chong Wei.

India’s Saina Nehwal could be battling it out with Spain’s defending World Champion Carolina Marin in the women’s singles, while England’s Chris and Gabby Adcock, the Commonwealth Games gold medallists, will be hoping to land the first home title since Olympic silver medallists Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms won the mixed doubles in 2005.

The event is celebrating its 33^rd successive year of title sponsorship with global sports brand Yonex, making it one of the longest standing partnerships in British sporting history.

Tickets are on sale now and start from £5 for a child ticket, with discounts available for concessions and group bookings.

For more information and to buy tickets go to allenglandbadminton.com.