Strong Opening to Welsh International for Kiwis

29 November 2013

Strong Opening to Welsh International for Kiwis

New Zealand enjoyed a strong start to the Welsh International Badminton Tournament in Cardiff overnight, with wins in women’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles.

The New Zealanders are focused on strong performances as they continue to earn ranking points ahead of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games but also know the selectors are watching closely, with the New Zealand team for the Oceania Championships in February due to be named next week.

Anna Rankin (Southland) and Michelle Chan (Auckland) safely negotiated their opening women’s singles matches against European opposition, with Rankin especially impressive in a straight games victory. Chan is continuing her return to the top of the sport after a six month break and won a tight encounter over Golovanova (RUS), taking the third game 21-19.

World 60th ranked pairing Kevin Dennerly-Minturn (Auckland) /Oliver Leydon-Davis (Waikato) continued their great form on the back of winning the Mexico International last week, easily disposing of an English pairing in their opening men’s doubles match.

Dennerly-Minturn then backed up with Danish international Koroline Synnestvedt to win through to the second round of the mixed doubles.

The only blip on an otherwise successful day for the New Zealanders was the loss in the women’s doubles by Rankin and Madeleine Stapleton, the pair going down in straight games to Scottish pair Bankier and Gilmour.

The tournament continues tonight New Zealand time, with finals due to be played on Sunday night (NZT).

Welsh Badminton International
Cardiff, Wales

Women’s Singles
Anna Rankin (NZL) def Dorotea Sutara (CRO) 21-11 21-11
Michelle Chan (NZL) def Olga Golovanova (RUS) 21-15 17-21 21-19

Women’s Doubles
Anna Rankin/Madeleine Stapleton (NZL) lost to Imogen Bankier/Kirsty Gilmour (SCO) 21-11 21-11

Men’s Doubles
Kevin Dennerly-Minturn/Oliver Leydon-Davis (NZL) def Farid Akroum/Conor Bambrick (ENG) 22-20 21-9

Mixed Doubles
Kevein Dennerly-Minturn (NZL) /Koroline Synnestvedt (DEN) def Adam Hall/Heather MacPherson (SCO) 21-14 21-19

For further information and results, CLICK HERE

www.badminton.org.nz

ENDS

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