Fifteen sailors have been selected by the British Olympic Association for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

The British Olympic Association (BOA) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) have reconfirmed the 15 sailors who will represent the nation at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

After unanimous agreement about the team from the RYA Olympic Selection Committee, it was decided that the sailors initially picked have the best chance of winning Olympic medals for Britain at the sailing venue of Enoshima.

Olympic champions who will return are Hannah Mills in the 470 women's event and Giles Scott in the finn category.

Mills will be joined by fellow World Championship winner Eilidh McIntyre while Luke Patience and Chris Grube are selected for the men's 470.

The men's 49er class will see Stuart Bithell team up with Dylan Fletcher, while Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey are set to feature in the 49erFX.

Alison Young will make her third Olympic appearance in the women's laser radial, while two debuts will be handed to Tom Squires and Emma Wilson in the RS:X windsurfer class.

The 12 were already provisionally selected in October and were joined by three other sailors. 

John Gimson and Anna Burnet have been selected in the Nacra 17 class alongside Elliot Hansen in the laser class, who fought off close competition from compatriots Michael Beckett and Nick Thompson.

All three were provisionally selected in February.

Mark Robinson, the RYA Olympic performance manager and Team GB Sailing team leader, said: "I am delighted to re-confirm the 15 athletes already selected for Team GB will stay the same for the rescheduled Games.

"Over the past eight months we have nominated an incredibly talented group of sailors to the BOA and we strongly believe they remain the right athletes to represent the nation in 2021."

Tokyo 2020 was moved to next year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Mark England, Britain's Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, added: "We feel with the re-confirmation of these names, the athletes can firmly set their sights on next July and ensure that when training resumes they can thoroughly prepare and be in the best possible position to show Team GB supporters and the world what they're capable of in Tokyo."

Britain will be represented in all 10 sailing disciplines at Tokyo 2020 after topping the sport's medal table last time at Rio 2016.