Kiwi Women Just Beaten In World Qualifying By Australia

New Zealand has come agonizingly close to causing a major upset in badminton’s Uber Cup women’s team qualifying tournament held at Stadium Southland in Invercargill, but was beaten 3-2 by Australia.

The underrated Kiwi team were always going to have to play well to compete with their trans-Tasman rivals who had bought back a number of former players out of retirement or in from other nations. Into the Australian side was Chi Chia Huang, winner of the NZ Open Grand Prix women’s singles in 2006 and also the national squad singles coach. Kate Wilson-Smith, an experienced doubles player and Olympian as well as two other doubles specialists.

In the top singles Michelle Chan was defeated by Huang in straight games, but North Harobur’s Jessica Jonggowisastro got the home side back in the clash with a 28-26 third game score, one hour long win over Leanne Choo to even up the clash. Southland’s Anna Rankin then gave the Kiwis a 2-1 lead with a victory against Erica Pong, one of the better wins of the Invercargill players career.

Unfortunately for the local crowd the top doubles went the way of the Australians as the highly regarded combination of Huang and ‘Rosy’ He Tian Tang, winners at a Grand Prix event last year teamed up to beat Donna Haliday and Danielle Barry in straight games.

In the final and deciding match of the contest the doubles specialist of Kate Wilson-Smith and Eugenia Tanaka from Australia were too strong for the singles specialists of Jonggowisastro and Chan, winning 21-13 21-9.

The Kiwi men’s team faces Australia in the Thomas Cup late on Saturday with the winner getting a trip to the world finals in Malaysia in May.

The Oceania Team Championships - Robson Shield competition starts tomorrow (Sunday) Sunday and Monday followed by the Oceania Individual Championships and Oceania Junior Championships from Tuesday through Saturday 27 February.

Results:

Uber Cup (women):

Australia 3 New Zealand 2

(Australian names first)

Chia Chi Huang bt Michelle KY Chan 21-15 21-9,

Leanne Choo lt Jessica Jonggowisastro 19-21 25-23 26-28,

Erica Pong lt Anna Rankin 20-22 15-21

Huang/Rosy He Tian Tang bt Donna Haliday/Danielle Barry 21-8 21-6,

Kate Wilson-Smith/Eugenia Tanaka bt Chan/Jonggowisastro 21-13 21-9

Uber cup

New Caledonia 5 Fiji 0

Thomas Cup (men)

Australia 5 Fiji 0