BOLTON badminton ace Chris Hunt hopes to beat a recurring shoulder injury -- and continue his quest for gold at the Olympics next month.

The injury forced Chris, whose family still lives locally, to pull out of the Malaysian Open. But, reports Chris -- at 31 the oldest player in the national badminton squad -- his overall preparations for the game are still on target.

"And I should be back to full fitness shortly," he states.

"The real build up to the Games began several months ago. But it is only now that I am beginning to feel excited by the prospect of representing Great Britain in what will be my third and last Olympic Games as a competitor," added Chris.

He is currently training hard in a combination of on-court practice, gym work and match play to prepare for Sydney.

"A special kind of specific sports training is needed if you are to compete in world class badminton events," explained Chris.

"At the end of the day, we have to hit and return the shuttle travelling at up to 180mph constantly, for 100 minutes in some matches."

But he is combining this work over the next few weeks, before flying out, with time at home or on the golf course.

Chris -- a Commonwealth Games triple-medallist -- is competing in the men's doubles' event with partner Julian Robertson. But he has the best medals' chance in the mixed with Derby-based partner Donna Kellogg.