THE coronavirus lockdown presents a particular challenge to sportsmen and women – but Ethan Rose has found a unique way round the problem.

Being unable to go through his normal training sessions, which are predominantly at Wheatley’s Park Sports Centre, threatened to become an issue for the up-and-coming badminton player.

Fortunately, his father, Neil, is a builder.

“I said it in jest to my dad about putting a court in the garden,” Rose said.

“But he actually thought it was possible. He had some timber and five days later I had a court.”

More specifically, half a court – the dimensions of the back garden in Oakley, near Chinnor, preventing a full layout.

That is more than enough, though, with Ethan’s mother Sue, who also doubles as his coach, able to feed the shuttlecocks from the other side of the net.

Providing it is not too windy, it allows Rose to continue much of his training as planned – a luxury many of his rivals will not have.

And the 17-year-old is hoping to reap the benefits once the competitions return.

He said: “I think it’s a massive advantage for me.

“Everyone is doing their best to keep a level of physicality, whether that’s in a home gym or running sessions.

“I think what people will struggle with coming back is the on-court physicality, so me being able to stay court fit is important.”

The rest of Rose’s routine is also relatively unaffected compared to most his age.

While in the first year of A-levels, the disruption felt elsewhere is not the same for him, having been home-schooled for the past four years.