Badminton players find winning mix

 

 

Lockdowns or levels, it was all the same to the Taranaki Badminton team at the central region inter-association competition.

 Taranaki took out division two last weekend in a competition usually run over a four-month period throughout the North Island. The changes were due to Auckland’s Level two restrictions, which shortened the format.

 Taranaki was unbeaten across its four matches against Wellington (9-3), Wellington North (9-3), Manawatu (9-3) and Hutt Valley (9-3).

 Team member Trent Riddick said each game tie was made up of 12 games – two men’s and women’s singles, two men’s and women’s doubles and four mixed doubles.

 “Each team must have a minimum of four men and women,” he said. 

 He attributed the clean sweep to a mix of culture, experience, energy, and eagerness.

 “Having slightly older players (the experienced) in the mix allows good training options and real time on court coaching for the young players, who themselves provide the other two E’s.”

 He said culture was also important to sustain a positive interaction of players ‘having a few good laughs during and after matches is gold’.

 Riddick said all players of the team had impressive wins.

 “Gilles Moeckli and Zara van Koppen finished on a 100 per cent winning percentage with the others not too far behind.”

 He said Badminton New Zealand did well to organise the competition at short notice and everyone in the team enjoyed the opportunity to travel and play.

 Along with Riddick, Moeckli and van Koppen, Campbell James, Nathan Beesley, Andrew Marfell, Chloe Benadie, Courtney Smith and Maggie Joe formed the Taranaki team.

 Meanwhile, Taranaki’s Vets 1 and Vets 2 teams had their last round of inter-association games on the weekend.

 The Vet 1 team played in Wellington with a win and loss to their name. The Vets 2 traveled to Hawke’s Bay and achieved one win along with two losses.  

 Taranaki Badminton Junior Championship 2020 Results:

 U15

Girls Singles

Winner:           Ling Ling Cheav                       Ru:       Sarah Taing

 Boys Singles

Winner:           Aman Ali                     RU:      Sam Pan

Boys Doubles

Winner:           Aman Ali & Sam Pan   RU:      Zac Barnardo & Jason Xie

 Mixed Doubles

Winner:           Ling Ling Cheav & Jason Xie    RU:      Sarah Taing & Clarence Chan

 U17

Girls Singles

Winner:           Jennifer Joe                 RU:      Emma-Rose Mackie

 Boys Singles

Winner:           Jayden Leece               RU:      William van Koppen

 Girls Doubles

Winner:           Jennifer Joe and Emma-Rose Mackie RU:      Ling Ling Cheav & Xanthe Hawksely

 Boys Doubles

Winner:           Jayden Leece & William van Koppen  RU:      Clarence Chan & Sam Pan

 Mixed Doubles

Winner:           Emma-Rose Mackie & William van Koppen    RU:      Jennifer Joe & Jayden Leece

 U19

Girls Singles

Winner:           Zara van Koppen         RU:      Clayr Asia

 Boys Singles

Winner:           William van Koppen    RU:      Jayden Leece

 Girls Doubles

Winner:           Clayr Asia & Zara van Koppen RU:      Chante de Villiers & Wei Qian Ong

 Boys doubles

Winner:           Jayden Leece & William van Koppen  RU:      Chase Kretschmar & Abu Sharique

 Mixed Doubles

Winner:           Zara & William van Koppen                RU:      Wei Qian Ong & Abu Sharique