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Hundreds of Junior Badminton Players Flock to Palmy

Friday 4 July 2008, 9:59AM

By Sport Manawatu

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PALMERSTON NORTH

From July 6-11, Palmerston North will be awash with young up-and-coming badminton players, vying for the North Island 14s and 16s Teams and Individual Championship titles.

Held at Arena Manawatu, the North Island Age Group Badminton Champs are one of the hallmark events on the badminton calendar, with over 400 competitors expected to compete in the event.

Hosted by Badminton Manawatu, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the annual event. There are high expectations for our local participants, who are the 16s Teams defending champions and are among the top picks to take it out again this year.

“Our local players created history by winning the 16s team competition last year and we have high hopes that they’ll be able to do the same again this time around,” says Richard Skarott from Badminton Manawatu.

The tournament, which begins early Sunday morning and has an opening ceremony at 3.00pm, is split into two halves. The teams event runs on Monday, Tuesday and the first half of Wednesday; while the individuals event completes the week until Friday.

Competitors from around the North Island, the majority from the Waikato and above, play a series of games throughout the week, with finals for the teams and individuals held on Wednesday and Friday respectively.

Sport Manawatu’s events coordinator, Thomas Buchanan, says, “events like these are great for the Manawatu, not only for the badminton community, but effects are felt further afield in local businesses such as retailers, food outlets and accommodation providers”.

Thomas says the event has an expected economic impact of close to $600,000 according to an Ernst and Young Report that has been carried out.

Attendance throughout the event is free of charge, and open to the general public who are encouraged to head down to Arena Manawatu and support their home teams.