[ CLARK - retiring, but ... ] [ ROBERTSON - the last one ] [ CANN - aims to regain ] [ RAJ - seeking a handful ] [ DRAWS released ] [ SEEDS announced ] [ PREVIEW ]

Rajiv Ouseph, who this weekend bids to win a record fifth consecutive men's singles title when the English National Badminton Championships take place at Bolton Arena, is on course to face 2010 Under 19 champion and 2011 finalist Josh Green following today's draw.

Top seed Ouseph starts his challenge on Friday morning against Cheshire's Ben Dolman but is likely to come up against fifth seed Green in the quarter-finals the following day.

Ironically, Ouseph played Green in the second round last year and the 19-year-old did not disgrace himself before going down 21-11 21-18.

But for there to be a rematch, the Isle of Man challenger will have to overcome Nottinghamshire's Neil White in his opening contest. White was a quarter-finalist last year and has reached the last eight three times so will provide Green with a real test.

Four-times runner-up Carl Baxter is second seed and the Kent player will start out against Arak Bhokoanandh, who represents Baxter's former county Avon. Baxter's first big test is expected to come against sixth seed Robert Kettle of Surrey in the last eight.

In the women's singles Elizabeth Cann is expected to put last year's surprise early exit behind her as she bids for a fifth title. She faces Dorset's Lynnlette Aung in the first round and the top seed is drawn to meet third seed and 2011 runner-up Sarah Wallker of Essex in the semi-finals.

In the bottom half of the draw defending champion Nicola Cerfontyne begins her bid against Yorkshire's Nicki Chan-Lam and can expect to have to overcome Cheshire's fourth seed and 2010 runner-up Helen Davies in the quarter-finals and either Hampshire's fourth seed Panuga Riou or Yorkshire's eighth seed Kate Robertshaw in the semi-finals.

GB’s leading men’s doubles pair Chris Adcock and Andrew Ellis are top seeds and begin with a bye before facing their first big test in the semi-finals against third seeds Gary Fox of Lancashire and Ben Stawski of Warwickshire. Adcock and Ellis are bidding to win the title for the first time.

In the bottom half of the draw defending champion Chris Langridge, who won last year with Nathan Robertson, will launch his title challenge with new partner Peter Mills.

The second seeds also start with a bye and their first big challenge should come with a semi-final clash against fourth seeds Anthony Clark and Kristian Roebuck. Clark won the title nine years running until an eye injury forced him to drop out last year when due to partner Langridge.

In the women’s doubles Mariana Agathangelou (Avon) and Heather Olver (Sussex) are top seeds for the first time. For the last two years they have been runners-up to Bolton-born Jenny Wallwork and partner Gabby White but the Leeds pair are No. 2 seeds this year.

Agathangelou and Olver, recent Swedish International winners, can expect their first big test fo come in the semi-finals when they are expected to meet fourth seeds Helena Lewczynska of Hertfordshire and Hayley Rogers of Cheshire.

In the bottom half Wallwork and White, who like Agathangelou and Olver, start with a bye are likely to face third seeds Alex Langley (Notts) and Lauren Smith (Yorks) in the semi-finals.

In the mixed doubles Wallwork and Nathan Robertson (Notts) are top seeds as they aim to make it a hat-trick of National titles together to add to the four Robertson won with Gail Emms.

Adcock and White, the 2011 runners-up are again the main threat as second seeds with Marcus Ellis (Yorks) and Olver at No. 3 and Stawski and Lauren Smith (Yorks) No. 4.

Victory would take Robertson (Notts) level with Mike Tredgett’s National title tally of 16 (10 men’s doubles and six mixed). Last year Robertson collected his ninth men’s doubles title when he deputised for Clark and won the title with Langridge.

Robertson and Wallwork, who last month won the Swedish International title, begin with a bye and can expect their toughest match en route to the final to come in the last four with a likely clash with third seeds Marcus Ellis (Yorks) and Heather Olver (Sussex).

Adcock and White are likely to meet Stawski and Smith in the semi-finals if the mixed doubles goes to seeding.

A total of 143 players from 28 counties have entered the Championships.

The Championships had been planned for a ninth consecutive year at Manchester Velodrome but BADMINTON England have agreed to switch the venue to Bolton Arena to help Britain’s cyclists prepare for the World Cup Classic, which is the Olympic Test event for London 2012.

Today’s draw features players from all over England as they seize the opportunity to take on some of the GB squad players hoping to qualify for London 2012.

The English National Championships, which is part of the National Championship series across all age groups, is being staged in Bolton Arena thanks to the special partnership BADMINTON England enjoys with Manchester City Council, racket and equipment company Carlton, and Case Security.

Tickets are still available at the Bolton Arena box office for all three days.

Full Draws