As the Blackburn Community Badminton League began it's first set of fixtures this month there was a new look to the top of the first division.

The familar quartet (Kheratker/Malik/Hussain and Chilwan) of seasons past are now propping up the table. In fact a championship decider less than six months ago was a bottom-of-the-table clash last week! It's not that they have had a huge dip in form it's just this year's league is so much more competitive. In come Mohammed Suleman and Mazar Hasware, Zafar Ali and Iqbal Khan. Suleman who heads the pack has already opened up a three point league on any of his rivals....and it looks like staying that way if we judge the manner in which he has won his first five matches.

In the second division he's back! By that we mean 63 year old Mohammed Patel who is keeping the heat on unbeaten Mahsooq Ahmed. Experienced Vin Nayee is sure to be threat to the top two...he sits in third place.

The third division sees Raheel Rashid and Sajid Butt set the pace. Azar Iqbal and Yasir Patel will still be in the reckoning as the season wears on. Apparently footballers make good Badminton players. Evidence of that comes in the form of defensive legend Mohammed Ilyas. He's played five and won five in the fourth division. In second spot is aspiring referee and goalkeeper Khalid Esat. He's played more than any of his rivals and joins the hunt with Bashir Ahmed, 15 year-old Zahir Bangee and Yunus Bahadur.

Some things never change and in the doubles first division it's Anwar Ali and Ijaz Ahmed who remain head and shoulders above the rest. They have been beaten though expect them to relinquish the crown without a fight just yet.

Mohammed Patel and new partner Venkat Reddy lead from the front in the second division..