WINCHESTER'S Westgate School will soon become the home of Hampshire badminton.

The Hampshire Badminton Association are celebrating after hearing that their ambitious plans for the £1.97 million Westgate Centre have received approval in principle for lottery funding.

Work on this state-of-the-art facility is expected to start in March, and should be completed in 2002.

The HBA are now urgently doing their best to raise the £40,000 as part of their share of the scheme.

Helen Troke, the former Commonwealth and European champion, is right behind the project.

She said: "This is a long-awaited facility which will enhance the good work going on in Hampshire.

"It will be the springboard to bring everything together - the training, coaching, competitive play and the first-class playing facilities that are required to produce international players.

"I'm delighted to be involved in this exciting venture."

Not only will the centre benefit all grades of players within the county, including disabled people, but it will be an asset to clubs.

The Westgate facility will provide a first-class venue for Hampshire tournaments, county matches, the county squads and a centre of excellence.

It will have five courts with a semi-sprung wood floor plus theatre-style seating for 200 in the viewing gallery.

There will be a lounge bar and cafeteria, a sports shop outlet and meeting room, plus use of the school's existing fitness centre and accommodation for tournaments and various courses during holiday periods.

The HBA have formed a partnership with Westgate School and both are linked by support from Hampshire County Council.

It is the first time anywhere in the country that this sort of initiative has taken place.

And it comes on the back of Great Britain's bronze medal success at the Sydney Olympics where Bognor's Joanne Goode and partner Simon Archer enjoyed success in the mixed doubles.

And badminton in Hampshire is currently booming.

Andrew Smith from Portchester is shining at junior level, and Fleet teenager Matthew Shuker is set to join Ringwood's Graham Hurrell as an established England senior squad member.

Ex-England international Nigel Tier, from Emsworth, is doing a sterling job as county development officer bringing on many of Hampshire's top young juniors.