CAMBS Badminton Academy’s David Shepherd has been selected to be a line judge at the 2012 London Olympics

CAMBS Badminton Academy’s David Shepherd has been selected to be a line judge at the 2012 London Olympics.

It follows his impressive track record at other major international tournaments over the last couple of years.

Shepherd, 18, started his officiating career in April 2009, when he took the opportunity to officiate as a volunteer at the Center Parcs National Schools Badminton Championships.

He then went on to learn about line judging at the UK School Games in Cardiff, where he was noticed by Abby Kumar, of Badminton Line Judges Association of England.

She advised him to apply to line judge at the Yonex All England Open Championships at the Birmingham National Indoor Arena in March 2010.

So, while still only 16-years old, he joined the team of highly experienced line judges to officiate at the prestigious event.

He also had to learn how to keep his cool on centre court in front of millions of television viewers worldwide, whilst having a call questioned rather vociferously by Danish player Peter Gade.

The call was correct and David has, since, gone from strength to strength, impressing the Line Judges Association with his commitment and ability.

Shepherd is now the Young Officials Co-ordinator for Badminton England in Cambridgeshire and manages young officials at major junior and adult badminton events.

If any junior is interested in pursuing a career in officiating, contact him on david@cambsbadmintonacademy.co.uk

• The academy will mark 400 days until London 2012 by putting on a marathon challenge at Bushfields Leisure Centre in Peterborough over the weekend of June 25/26.

This marathon challenge event is for adults (both county and social/club players) on the Saturday and juniors in U15 and U18 age groups the following day.

The event is being run as 28 individual King of the Court 90-minute competitions with 12 adult sessions and 16 junior.

Players can enter up to three separate competitions in any one day and can have different partners for different doubles competitions.

Entries will be accepted on a first come, first served basis and need to be in by June 12.

Ex England number one Aamir Ghaffar will also be turning out to support the junior events.

For more information and entry forms, visit www.cambsbadmintonacademy.co.uk