Sky Sports television is about to launch its new badminton competition over the next few weeks and viewers will be able to watch Jordan Hart represent Loughborough as one of their ladies singles' players as they take on other top badminton teams like Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Derby, Birmingham, Gloucester and Surrey.
 
Jordan is currently studying at Loughborough College in her third year of a four-year BSc course in Sports Science and was understandably thrilled to be invited to play in the new National Badminton League, where Sky Sports have decided to make the competition more glamorous under a new format.
 

New format – and silence broken at last!

 
There will be a team of five, comprising men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles, with five sets up to nine points rather than the customary three sets of 21 points. Points will still only be able to be scored on service but an initiative is the availability of a 'special shuttle' which can be chosen and worth two points, at one time during each match - and will be accompanied by flashing lights and fanfares!
 
Each team will wear very distinctive coloured kit and when we caught up with a thrilled Miss Hart she had the day before completed her photo shoot with Sky Television in readiness for the start - and was able to break her silence about the good news after a month cloaked in secrecy
 
"To be honest," said Jordan, "I had also been offered the chance to play for an Italian team in their National League, but decided to stay here and play in this new venture. Chloe Birch is our other women's singles player and we are coached by Swedish No 1 player Heinrick Heirksinen, who is one of the best in the world and also will play for us, when needed!
 

Fighting back to full fitness after injury . . .

 
Jordan's joy is easier to understand when we realise that she has fought back magnificently from injury and illness that might have brought about her demise after she had battled her way to No 1 Welsh female player and a high ranking in the UK set-up.
 
But then she was rocked back by an ankle injury sustained in training at Cardiff with the Welsh team, when she moved in for a short shot and her ankle twisted so badly that she knew straight away that the pain confirmed her first thoughts.
 
It meant that Jordan would have to return to training as soon as possible because she was already almost signed, sealed and delivered for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July, right down to attending sessions on how to deal with the media, drug awareness and dietary needs.
 
. . . And then from illness!
 
Battler that she is, Jordan was determined to reach a vital goal for her - but started to feel so tired in training that sometimes she found it hard to stay awake afterwards
 
"I sometimes had to go to hospital for hydration and whilst there I undertook tests which eventually confirmed I had glandular fever and faced six months of medication - and I knew my chances of making Glasgow were shot to pieces!
 
"To say I was gutted was an understatement and if I'm honest I did consider not playing anymore - although that only lasted for a short while because I knew I couldn't live with myself afterwards!
 
"I've always been a grafter since I started out under the watchful eye of Phil Gwyther,  and never mind who I play because I just give it my best shot - and I'm still known as a huge shouter on court because it's just my way of motivating myself. I still get nervous before I play, no matter where or against whom, but I've learnt to channel it in the right direction!"

Wonderful family support and from others too!

 
Whilst she was home with the illness she was really lifted by parents Mandy and Derek, who has always pushed her hard and trained with her whenever she wanted. Jordan was also boosted by younger sister Lowri (12), who is ranked No 1 player at under 13 level, and got her big sister on court at every opportunity.
 
"How could I stop when they were all so supportive," admitted Jordan, "and when I returned to Loughborough I was given every positive thought by Mike Adams, the English International Coaching Director.
 

Soon back in action

 
"I was so stimulated that I was soon back in regular training and over recent months I’ve been working really hard from 7 to 9am, then attending lectures for my Sports Science course, followed by another training session which is usual 4-6pm or 5-7pm - and then the food tasted delicious after burning off so many calories."
 
Since her return to action Jordan has already been abroad four times to play in Greece, Slovakia, Croatia and Poland, and reached the quarter-finals, twice missing out to the eventual winners as she takes on top players from China, Malaysia, Africa and almost every corner of the world.
 

Awful cuts to National sponsorship

 
It is ironic, however, that at the time of so much joy, however comes news that Jordan’s sponsorship from her national body has been cut, so she could face the prospect of having to find cash to enter tournaments, something that surely should bring shame on the likes of the National Lottery and other so-called promotional sporting bodies who say we must nurture our young talent!
 
Her racquets and playing kit is sponsored by Yonex, well-known for its involvement in racquet sports, but further financial help from any company would help because Jordan's expenses are borne by Mandy and Derek as caring parents.
 
Jordan is ranked No 1 in Wales at under 20 and senior levels and will represent Wales in the forthcoming Cardiff and Glasgow Opens, where she is sure to meet more top stars in her attempt to climb up the world rankings ladder.
 

And finally . . .

 
"I'm now ranked UK number 5 senior in the UK but the only way to progress in the world rankings is to get abroad as much as possible - So I have to do it, especially with the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics as possible future targets because at 20 years of age I still have plenty of time still left.”
 
So what of the future for Jordan? At present she is totally committed to playing her badminton and successfully completing her Sports Science course - but would eventually like to become a PE teacher, perhaps back in Pembrokeshire.
 
But whatever she elects to do it will be undertaken in the same committed, vibrant and motivated way that her badminton is trained for and played - and we wish Jordan Hart the sort of success that she deserves, not only in her chosen sport but in life as well!