Sponsorship crucial to Sibley’s London dream

The Leamington-born world number 158 has appeared in two Commonwealth Games, which included a fourth-placed finish in the women’s team event in Delhi this year, secured a ladies’ doubles bronze medal at the 2009 Commonwealth Championships and a Division Two gold medal at the 2008 World Team Championships.

But despite her success, Sibley has found funding hard to come by and without valuable sponsorship her future development could suffer and dent ambitions of competing at London 2012.

She said: “Sponsorship at this crucial time is very important to me, especially as we are going into the programme for 2012. My greatest ambition in life is to achieve my Olympic dream and represent Great Britain at London 2012.

“Sponsorship would help pay for training, travelling expenses and general living expenses.

“The consequences of not getting any sponsorship would greatly inhibit my chances of competing with the top players in the world and to not be able to continue training at the highest level due to lack of funds would be truly devastating.”

The 22-year-old also forms part of Team Coventry and Warwickshire, a project run by the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games, which aims to profile the region’s aspiring sporting talent and support them through bursary funding and assisting with finding and pursuing opportunities to develop their sporting career.

Will Bastin, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership assistant for the 2012 Games, said: “We want to see as many people from Coventry and Warwickshire representing our region as athletes during London 2012 and we think Kelly is someone who stands a great chance of doing that.

“Hopefully, her achievements will inspire others in the region to take part in sport or engage in the excitement surrounding London 2012.

“We hope she can get the backing she needs to succeed because she is immensely talented and we will be doing everything we can to support her. If anyone is interested in supporting Kelly to achieve her Olympic dream, please contact us.”

Sponsorship opportunities, to help the development of members of Team Coventry and Warwickshire, are available.

For more information, contact Bastin at the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for the 2012 Games on 07545 440 783 or email [email protected]