Badminton is the perfect sport for New Year fitness

Held twice a week at Langdon Park the club's sessions have proved such a hit 50 members have already signed up, halfway to Brian's target figure. The 33-year-old has been delighted at the response.

He said: "It's been great to see so many people keen to get involved already, especially as we've only been going for just over a month. I'm passionate about badminton and I'm very keen to encourage more people to play what is a wonderful sport.

"There's always room for more. It's an informal club at the moment, with no membership fee, and players set up games through our website, so it's totally hassle-free."

The success of former world champions Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson at the 2004 Olympics, where they claimed a silver medal in the mixed doubles, helped boost the sport's profile in Britain and Brian hopes people will be inspired to take it up ahead of 2012.

He said: "With the Olympics on our doorstep in just over two years time this is a perfect time to start playing. Who knows, there might be someone out there who has never played before and they could turn out to be a potential Olympic champion.

"The standard of players at the club is decent, from intermediate to advanced, but beginners are always welcome."

Brian is originally from Malaysia, where badminton is hugely popular, and he sees no reason why that popularity cannot be replicated in east London.

He said: "Badminton is a great sport. It's all about power, stamina and tactics, with a bit of cunning as well. And as an indoor sport it's an ideal way to keep fit on these cold winter days.

"Most of our matches are doubles, so you don't need to be super-fit to take it up, and with so many members already involved there's never any problem finding a partner. We provide the shuttlecocks, all you need to do is turn up."

Brian, who cites China's Lin Dan and his Malaysian compatriot Lee Chong Wei as his favourite players, hopes the club will spawn a more competitive element in due course.

He said: "The aim in future is to run a league but at the moment it's to raise awareness of the sport in Canary Wharf, and to keep fit. I'd love more Wharfers to come along and try it."

To find out more about the club visit londonbadminton.weebly.com.