England blames security for badminton withdrawal

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England badminton officials and players blamed what they said were inadequate security measures for their decision to pull out of this week's world championships in India.

Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy told a media conference on Monday that the team was not given "appropriate levels of security" for the tournament in Hyderabad.

Security concerns over sports events in South Asia have been heightened since the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan, that killed six policemen and a driver in March.

Seven cricketers, an assistant coach and a match official were injured, and England's Commonwealth Games champion Nathan Robertson said he and his teammates were disturbed by the threat of a similar attack.

"It wasn't a safe place for staff or players," Robertson said at the media conference at Milton Keynes, England. "We were on back roads with no armed guards or anything _ just a bus driver. It doesn't matter to me where it is in the world, we weren't safe in that situation.

"It wasn't a difficult decision in my mind."

England flew home from Hyderabad on Sunday, a day before the tournament started, because of a terrorist threat from a Pakistan-based Islamic militant group.

Indian police have denied there was a threat but team manager Andy Wood said that security was so lax that members of the public could easily walk into the players' hotel unchallenged.

"I don't think we have overreacted," Christy said. "We were very clear of our expectation of security before the event. We went to Hyderabad with every intention of being met with appropriate levels of security.

"We were not particularly impressed with the level of security we were met with on arrival and subsequent days. It was absolutely the right thing to do."

Christy also expressed his unhappiness with comments from Badminton Scotland chief executive Anne Smillie that England had overreacted.

England performance director Ian Ross said other teams were concerned with security and got in touch with their embassies for advice on whether to stay.

"This is unfortunate and an overreaction," India home secretary G.K. Pillai said late Sunday. "The security arrangements in Hyderabad are good and the government of India is committed to ensure the complete security of all competitors and the championship."

In March, two of England's top badminton players withdrew from the India Open in Hyderabad citing security concerns.

British sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe has said he will talk over the issue with Indian government officials and that the country intends to support India in its hosting of the Commonwealth Games next year.

"We very much look forward to the Commonwealth Games," Christy said. "I'm sure they will be a great success."

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