YOG 2010: Milne battling the badminton odds in Singapore

From Tom Reynolds in Singapore, Sportsbeat

SARAH Milne admits the badminton draw will be against her at the inaugural Youth Olympics but having battled a knee injury to be in Singapore she insists anything is possible.

UP AGAINST IT: Sarah Milne admits the luck of the draw is against her at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore

The 18-year-old is the sole British badminton representative in the Far East having earned selection by taking bronze at the European qualification event in Denmark in March.

However a disappointing World Junior Championships a month later in Mexico could cost Milne dear with seeding for the Youth Olympics based on the April event.

Milne suffered further heartache shortly after returning to the UK after being forced to go under the knife to repair an injured knee.

Milne has since recovered and after overcoming that setback she is adamant she can overcome the odds stacked against her and do herself justice in the Lion City.

"The way they are doing the tournament is going to be quite difficult because the seedings are all based on the World Championships and I had a bad draw in that," said Milne.

"I made the last 32 at the World Championships but I had a bad draw and that is just one of those things.

"So it's going to be hard but if I can perform then I know I can have a good tournament and maybe be challenging for a semi-final or a final spot.

"I am feeling really excited about Singapore now because I am injury free, feeling good and I just want to play badminton now.

"I had a really good surgeon who sorted me out and there is no pain now or anything which is great. I haven't had any pain since just a week after the operation."

Milne won't have to wait long to take to the court in the Far East with the badminton competition beginning on the first Sunday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

And Milne - who is part of a 39-strong British Youth Olympic team - insists she has left nothing to chance in her preparations.

"Preparation has been good, I have come out of rehab and everything has been fine," said Milne. "I've been working hard with my coach just getting my game right and working on other people's games so hopefully I'll peak for the Olympics.

"I would love to get to the latter stages of the tournament, semi-finals, finals - that would be really good - but I mainly want to perform and feel good with my game.

"With draws, you don't know what it is going to be like so you just have to aim to perform as best as you can."