Park returns to threaten British hopes

Badminton

British hopes of winning their first Olympic medal will encounter an unexpected hurdle after the announcement that South Korea's Park Joo-Bong is to come out of retirement for the Atlanta Games in nine months' time, writes James Leigh.

Park, widely regarded as the greatest all-round doubles player of all time, has been considering one more attempt upon a major title since the decision of the International Olympic Committee to allow mixed doubles into the programme for 1996.

Among the strongest British prospects of a first medal had appeared to be the mixed doubles, at which Nick Ponting and Joanne Wright were All- England champions last year. However, Park and Gil Young-Ah must now be the favourites for the event.