By Charlie Talbot-Smith

PETTS Wood badminton player Carl Baxter insists he is hell-bent on catching rival Rajiv Ouseph in order to prove his allegiance to Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

The 25-year-old is set for the biggest test of his career to date with the year-long qualification process for 2012, which will be 500 days away on March 15, set to open in May.

Baxter, who moved to Britain from Canada aged 17, must maintain his world ranking of 35th to guarantee himself one of 38 tickets to Wembley Arena initially on offer.

Ouseph is currently Britain’s best hope in the men’s singles not only being ranked 14th but also beating Baxter in the English national championship final for the third successive time this year.

However, Baxter is not about to throw in the towel and believes Ouseph will spend the next 18 months looking nervously over his shoulder as he times his Olympic assault to perfection.

“It’s getting a bit frustrating now,” said Baxter.

“I’ve lost to Rajiv three years in a row now at the nationals, I’ve played well but still lost.

“It’s good that we’re both at a certain level and we both push each other in training, he knows I’m trying to catch him and I know that I need to work hard if I’m going to catch him.

“My whole strategy now is based in the long term and it’s all about training the right way to make sure I’m ready for the big tournaments like the worlds and the Olympics next year.”

Baxter added: “I took 10 weeks off from training at the end of last year, which is why I had a drop in the rankings, but I’m looking for the long-term benefit. I’ve got to crack the top 16 by April 2012.

“I feel confident that I can make it, there’s been a steady rise in my level of play and I’ve beaten some good players, so I need to start producing now.”

Winnipeg-born Baxter joined forces with arch-rival Ouseph back in October at the Commonwealth Games, helping his adopted country win bronze in the mixed team event.

Baxter reached the quarter-finals of the men’s singles as Ouseph claimed silver and with that in mind he is desperate to show his loyalties lie this side of the Atlantic in 2012.

“I moved over from Canada when I was 17 and I feel very much British now and London 2012 hopefully will be a particularly special moment for me,” he added.

“Yes there will be added pressure of performing in our home nation but you have to thrive on it, don’t let it get in the way of your performance, the Olympics is pressure enough on its own.

“The Olympics are massive, it’s the pinnacle of any sportsman’s career.

“It only comes round once every four years. It doesn’t get any bigger and I’m just really looking forward to it.”

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