New Zealand vs Australia - Whyte Trophy

The New Zealand badminton team is looking to join the list of recent victories over Australia in the ILT Whyte Trophy test series being played at Stadium Southland, Invercargill starting Saturday.

The Whyte Trophy is a three tie series played for bi-annually. Each tie consists of five matches, one in each discipline; men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. The first tie is Saturday night, the second is Monday night and the third Wednesday night. All ties are being played at Stadium Southland, the first time in the history of the event that all three ties have been played in the same venue. New Zealand is going for their seventh consecutive win of the trophy.

The New Zealand team has been boosted by the return of 2005 World Championships mixed doubles bronze medallist Daniel Shirley. Shirley (30), with 63 international caps, will add considerable value to the team both on and off the court, particularly to the four young players who are representing New Zealand at a senior level for the first time: Oliver Leydon-Davis, James Eunson, Anna Rankin and Stepanie Cheng.

The New Zealand team is: Rachel Hindley (NH), Stephanie Cheng (Ak), Donna Haliday (Ak), Anna Rankin (Sth), Danielle Barry (Wtk). Joe Wu (Waik), Oliver Leydon-Davis (Waik), James Eunson (Sth), Henry Tam (Akl), Daniel Shirley (Wtk)

Attached is a head and should picture of Daniel Shirley

Results will be sent through at the conclusion of the tie on Saturday night, this will not be until 11pm.

Publication of the results and the story which I will write to go with them would be appreciated.

Radio interviews can be arranged with any of the players or myself, please contact me on the number below to arrange.