Kiwi Pair Fall Short In Tahiti Final

The New Zealand women’s doubles pair of Amanda Brown (Waikato) and Waitakere’s Kirtteka Gregory have come up just short at the US$15,000 Tahiti Badminton International Challenge tournament in Punaauia, Tahiti.
Brown and Gregory had won through to the title playoff after beating a French combination in the semifinals but were defeated in straight games by the world No43 ranked team from Canada, Nicole Grether and Charmaine Reid. 21-4 21-11 in the final.
It is the second time the Kiwi pair have been runners-up in an international tournament after being beaten in the Auckland International final last year. However the Kiwis will have picked up some valuable ranking points in their quest to qualify for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and time on court heading into representing New Zealand at the Sudirman Cup in Malaysia next month.
Meanwhile in the mixed doubles the Waikato brother and sister pair of Oliver and Susannah Leydon-Davis lost to Dutchman, Rudd Bosch and Thai, Salakjit Ponsana 21-10 20-22 21-15 in 43 minutes.
The majority New Zealand players will be back on court in June as they take on Australia in a one-off Whyte Trophy test match at North Harbour followed by the Auckland International.
US$15,000 Tahiti Badminton International Challenge Results:
Women’s doubles final: Nicole Grether/Charmaine Reid (Canada) bt Amanda Brown/Kritteka Gregory (New Zealand) 21-4 21-11.
Mixed doubles semifinal: Rudd Bosch (Netherlands)/Salakjit Ponsana (Thailand) bt Oliver Leydon-Davis/Susannah Leydon-Davis (New Zealand) 21-10 20-22 21-15