Badminton star Lauren Smith has vowed to fight on after her sport lost their appeal following UK Sport funding cuts.

It was one of seven disciplines to see their appeal against cuts rejected this week, ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic cycle.

It means badminton’s funding has been cut to zero after they received more than £5m in the four years running up to the Rio Olympics, despite Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge getting one of Great Britain’s 67 medals in Brazil in the men’s doubles.

Smith, of Longtown, partnered Heather Olver and was knocked out in the group stages but the pair did win their final match. She will fight back from the funding blow.

She said: “Personally, I’m still hungry to achieve more and want to go to another Commonwealth Games and Olympics, this time as a medal contender.

"To do this, I’m going to have to search for personal sponsorship and alternative income, but being a true Cumbrian, I will not let this decision stop me from working towards my goals.”

And, while Smith admitted it was “a real blow” to lose the appeal after badminton’s success in Rio, she will continue to work with Badminton England to ensure the top athletes in the sport can continue to compete on the global stage.

She added: “It’s a very frustrating situation as Rio was an incredible Olympics for badminton in so many ways with the medal, a representative in every event and everyone winning a game, as well as huge participation nationally with one million people playing every month – and this decision has taken the wind out of our sails a bit.

“Of course, Badminton England are committed to ensuring there is a future for badminton, but to do so without the financial support of the government will be very difficult.

“UK Sport’s support contributed towards so much. Physios, strength and conditioning programmes, nutritionists, shuttle costs, tournament costs, athlete allowance and much more that helped us compete at a world level.

“We’re still all totally committed to continue to improve as a squad and compete at a world level.

“Looking forward, we have the Yonex All England just around the corner and further ahead the Commonwealth Games, where we know we are capable of great things.”

Smith, and her team England team-mates, proved how competitive they can be by winning European Mixed Team Championship bronze in Poland.

“It was great to medal at the European Mixed Team Championships. As a team, that is what we went out to do,” the 25-year-old said.

“Overall, we’re happy with our bronze but, having pushed Russia so close in the semi-final, there was some frustration in not being higher on the podium.

"It was good for us all to get back to competitive matches after quite a break in tournaments.”