BADMINTON coach Brian Roper reckons that England has a real chance of Commonwealth Games' at the Bolton Arena writes Angela Kelly

The Bolton man should know. In a coaching career spanning nearly 30 years, he has nurtured the playing careers of champions -- including current England No.1 singles' player Colin Haughton from Denton.

And, according to Brian, the Manchester lad is a hot prospect for a medal.

"Colin didn't start playing until he was 15, which is very late," he explained. "He didn't even enter a tournament until he was 17. Some eminent professor type said that it takes 10 years to make a champion and it's just about that.

"But Colin has the tenacity. The talent didn't show at the start, but he has got his game together. It all now depends on the draw, and on the day.

"But he could certainly beat the Europeans and he could certainly take a medal -- especially if the crowd gets behind him."

Trying to stop him will be an embarrassment of Malaysian talent, including Choong Han Wong, Tsuemseng Lee and James Chua. Former All England champion Gopichand of India, Geoffrey Bellingham of New Zealand and Indra Wjaya from Singapore are also ones to watch.

Kelly Morgan from Wales is likely to be top seed in the women's singles and a gold medal contender, said Brian. But England's Tracey Hallam and Julia Mann will also be strongly tipped, with strong Chinese opposition from Cheng Wang and Wanting Ling.

England's Nathan Roberton and Anthony Clark "will certainly get a medal" in the men's doubles, according to Brian.

Predictably, the sternest tests will come from Malaysians Chew Choon Eng and Chan Chong Ming, and Tamfook Choong and Wan Weh Lee. New Zealanders Daniel A Shirley and John Gordon and Australians Peter Blackburn and Murray Hocking are also in the top flight.

A new, unseeded England pairing of Simon Archer and Anthony Clark could come through strongly, says Brian. "Anthony is very under-rated, very quick and clever, and Simon is experienced and really wants to win. They could do well."

In the ladies' doubles, two of Brian's former protoges -- Sara Sankey and Ella Miles -- are his hot tips for success.

Rivalling them will be New Zealand's Rhona S Robertson and Tammy Jenkins and Scotland's Sandra Watt and Yuan Wemyss.

England's Jo Goode and Gail Emms are also good medal prospects. Jo Goode and her England partner and fellow Olympic bronze medallist Simon Archer are also much fancied for the mixed doubles' title.

But fellow national stars Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, Anthony Clark and Sarah Sankey, and Robert Blair with Donna Kellogg could all "easily be in the running."

Watch out, too, for Australians Kate Wilson-Smith and Travis Denney, Scots Russell Hogg and Kirsteen McEwan and Canadians Mike Beres and Kara Solmundson.

The real "winners" at these Commonwealth Games' events, though, says Brian, are the spectators. "There really is going to be some fantastic badminton to see."

And a clutch of medals for England would just be the icing on the cake.