Muggeridge dropped

Badminton

Jo Muggeridge, England's most successful international women's singles player for much of the past four years, was thrown out of the national training squad yesterday after a row with the England manager, Steve Baddeley.

The row ended with Muggeridge tipping a can of coke over Baddeley's head and storming out of his office. Muggeridge, who has had injury problems, reportedly told Baddeley she would never play for England again.

The Wimbledon-based player has already lost funding for three major forthcoming tournaments because she has not played in the British Grand Slam this season.

Baddeley wants to make sure Muggeridge, who has long had fitness problems, is training properly. He has insisted she now does so in co-operation with the national coach, Asger Madsen.

"Provided she works and trains and improves in future, she would be brought back into the squad because her playing level is not in doubt. She has the ability to be in the world's top 20," Baddeley said. "But we haven't seen her work on her fitness. If we can see her work with Asger and see some improvement, it would be different."