Chris Adcock believes the upcoming English National Badminton Championships can be the first step on the road to becoming Olympic champion with mixed doubles partner Gabby White. The duo were an unofficial pairing at last year's Nationals, but still left with the title which they will aim to defend at Manchester's National Cycling Centre from February 1.

Now they are a permanent partnership, after Adcock had represented Team GB at London 2012 alongside Imogen Bankier. Following a disappointing early exit at his home Games, Leicester-born Adcock admits he is already eyeing Rio 2016 - and he believes he can go all the way with White by his side.

"It's the National championships but we also have bigger things in our minds such as World Championships and Olympics," said the 23-year-old. "We all train to try and improve each other and get ourselves better for the bigger picture which is getting to be the best in the world.

"We want to get to Rio, we want to win a medal and we want it to be gold. It is a long cycle but it will come around really quick. We need to make sure we get ourselves in the best shape possible to achieve what we want to."

To experience England's best players battle it out live for the title of National Champion, visit www.nationalbadmintonchamps.co.uk or call the box office on + 44 844 5811 424

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Article by Paul Smith, Sportsbeat. Photo by BadmintonPhoto.