Rajiv Ouseph can't wait for Olympics to get going

Great Britain's men's singles hope, Rajiv Ouseph, claims the excitement surrounding the Olympics has become "overwhelming".

Hounslow-born Ouseph is one of four badminton players from the host nation preparing for London 2012.

The 25-year-old world number 25 has qualified as the 15th seed and is anxious for the action to begin as the Games come to his home city.

Ouseph said: "It has been a while since it was announced it would be in London. I am really looking forward to it now.

"It is going to be extra-special for me with my parents and friends and family coming to watch me. I really can't wait to get going.

"There is not long now to the Olympics - there is just an overwhelming feeling of excitement."

Ouseph, ranked 19th when the Olympic qualification period ended in May, has been as high as 11th and underlined his ability with a stunning defeat of current number five Peter Gade in March.

That win at the All England Championships in Birmingham avenged a first-round loss to the Danish veteran at the World Championships at Wembley Arena last August - an unhappy first visit to the Olympic venue.

Ouseph said: "I would have liked to have won last year but it was good to play in the hall and get used to it.

"Hopefully this time it won't take me as long to get ready. The qualifying year was a little bit up and down and I had a couple of niggles, but I qualified in the top 16 on the men's list to get a seeding.

"That could be important for the Games. I am just looking to take one game at a time and see where it goes. The preparations have gone well. We have just come back from a preparation camp in Denmark where we played against the other top European players.

"It went really well and hopefully I can take that form into the tournament."

Ouseph was speaking as he and Britain's other badminton players - Chris Adcock, Imogen Bankier and Susan Egelstaff - were presented with their Team GB kit at Loughborough University.

The experience brought home to Ouseph just how close the Games, which start next week, now are.

He said: "I am really excited to be kitted out. It is a really proud moment for me and I am hoping we can do well as a badminton team, and me individually as well.

"Hopefully all the hard work will pay off. It is just going to be good to get to Wembley and start playing, start hitting shuttles. That is what we are here to do."