Waikato Player Wins Third Title

Waikato badminton player Bjorn Seguin, 19 celebrated his third tournament win in succession after having a straight set victory in the final of the North Island and Northland championships in Whangarei over the weekend.

 

To add to his recent triumphs at the New Zealand U23, the North Harbour Open and the latest in Northland the talented teenager also won the doubles title at the event, teaming with fellow Waikato player, Michael Fowke to defeat Southland’s James Eunson and Ashraf Dhoray(Auckland).

 

The victory in doubles proved how strong the Waikato region has become in the sport in recent times firstly under the guidance of TJ Weistra and now current coach Luiz Suarez from Mexico.

 

American-born Seguin is not yet available for New Zealand under Badminton World Federation criteria . He can play Whyte Trophy for his adopted nation but is still ineligible for the Commonwealth Games.

 

It was a tough event for Southland’s Eunson, 19 who made three finals and lost all three. In the singles he was beaten by Seguin 21-14 21-17. The doubles was also straight games while the mixed went three games as Malaysian-born, Wellington-resident Jian de Chew celebrated his 29th birthday by teaming with Southland’s Anna Rankin to defeat Eunson and Auckland Stephanie Cheng.

 

The women’s singles was a reverse of the New Zealand U23 final with Auckland’s Clare Chapple showing plenty of resolve to come from a game down to defeat Rankin 14-21 21-18 21-18.

 

Emma Chapple and Stephanie Cheng took three games to overcome the young pair of Kritteka Gregory and Mary O’Connor from Waitakere for the women’s doubles title.

 

Results:

Men’s singles final: Bjorn Seguin(Waikato) bt James Eunson(Southland) 21-14 21-17,

Women’s singles final: Clare Chapple(Auckland) bt Anna Rankin(Southland) 12-21 21-14 21-14

Men’s doubles final:

Michael Fowke(Waikato0/Bjorn Seguin(Waikato) bt Ashraf Dhoray(Auckland)/James Eunson(Southland) 21-18 21-18 .

Women’s doubles final:

Emma Chapple(Auckland)/Stephanie Cheng(Auckland) bt Kritteka Gregory(Waitakere)/Mary O’Connor(Waitakere) 14-21 21-18 21-18 .

Mixed semifinal:

Jian Dee Chew(Wellington)/Anna Rankin(Southland) bt Dean Nuttall(Nth Harbour)/Michelle Nuttall(Northland) 21-16 21-13 .

James Eunson(Southland)/Stephanie Cheng(Auckland) bt Ashraf Dhoray(Auckland)/Clare Chapple(Auckland) 21-16 21-10 .

Final:

Chew/Rankin bt Eunson/Cheng 19-21 21-18 21-17 .