UK Sport announces Tokyo 2020 funding as badminton loses out despite Rio 2016 bronze medals

Bronze medalists Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis at Rio 2016
Getty Images
Andy Sims9 December 2016

Badminton was the big loser after UK Sport announced its investment in Olympic and Paralympic sports for Tokyo 2020.

Badminton has had its funding cut despite Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge winning bronze to secure Britain's first men's doubles medal at Rio this year.

Archery, fencing, weightlifting and wheelchair rugby will also not receive funding over the next Olympic cycle.

Badminton had its funding cut from £7.4million to £5.9million after London 2012, after no players managed the minimum fourth to eighth-placed finish which had been targeted.

Yet despite the surprise success of Ellis and Langridge, the sport will not get a slice of the £345million of National Lottery and government funding which UK Sport has announced will be invested over the next four years.

UK Sport CEO Liz Nicholl said: "With each of the sports affected we have a commitment to see their transition out of funding is supported.

"They have got medal potential they have progressed as sports, but we cannot reach to funding them for Tokyo. Conversations are going on with those sports."

British Fencing described its funding cut as "unexpected" after its performance in Rio, where Richard Kruse came within two points of claiming the country's first Olympic medal for 52 years in the men's foil.

In a statement the governing body said: "This is obviously a very disappointing and unexpected decision for everyone in British Fencing and one which we will be seeking to appeal.

"We recognise the financial constraints that UK Sport is operating under. However, over the last cycle the programme has transformed into a recognised and professional world class programme which is delivering consistent and improving international results.

"We believe that our athletes have the talent, skills and determination to win Olympic medals and this decision is a serious setback for them and the wider sport."

In contrast, British Gymnastics was celebrating an increase in funding of over £2million to £16.68million following the unprecedented success of its team in Rio.

British Gymnastics chief executive Jane Allen said: "Given the resources available to meet the demands of extremely strong high performance systems within many National Governing Bodies that are currently delivering on the world stage, British Gymnastics believes our allocation is a very fair one that rewards our historic results in the last Olympic cycle culminating in our best ever Olympic Games."

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