New Zealand Secures Pan Pacific Victory

The New Zealand under 19 badminton team won the Lion Foundation Pan Pacific Series at the North Harbour Badminton Centre late Thursday night with an emphatic victory over Australia six matches to one.

New Zealand had earlier defeated Singapore Sports Schools and New Zealand Associations, however their win against their trans-Tasman opponents was easier than expected and was their first title in the competition since 2005.

The only match lost by New Zealand was in the second women’s singles where Melissa Yin was defeated by the highly regard Louisa Ma in straight games, otherwise the home teams top men, Luke Charlesworth(Waitakere) and Asher Richardson(Canterbury) scored wins over their counterparts in straight games and three games respectively.

In the other day three match Singapore Schools beat New Zealand Associations 7-1.

Each tie in the Pan Pacific Championships consists of 11 matches overall; three men’s singles, three women’s singles, one men’s and women’s doubles and three mixed contests.

In Thursday’s matches New Zealand play Australia while the New Zealand Associations take on the Singapore Schools from 6pm all at North Harbour.

The Pan Pacific competition is followed by the Westpac New Zealand Junior International which all players from the Pan Pacific Series are playing in as well as a number of other New Zealand under19 players. Play starts in this event at 12 noon on Friday 18th Jun, 10am Saturday 19th with semi-finals at 5pm, finals commence 10am Sunday 20th.


Pan Pacific under 19 Badminton Series, North Harbour

Results (final scores).

New Zealand bt New Zealand Associations 8-3

(New Zealand names first)

New Zealand 6-1

Men’s singles: Luke Charlesworth bt Jeff Beundia 21-7 21-9,

Men’s singles: Asher Richardson bt Brendan Tieu 221-11 21-12,

Men’s singles: Samuel Ho bt Hu-Wen Chew 19-21 21-9 21-17,

Women’s singles: Melissa Yin lt Louisa Ma 19-21 13-21,

Women’s singles: Poh Lin Teo bt Verdet Kessler 21-16 21-14,

Men’s doubles: Charlesworth/Evan Lee bt Tieu/Matthew Chau 16-21 21-1 21-14,

Women’s doubles: Mary O’Connor/Madeline Stapleton bt Tara Pilven/Ma 21-13 18-21 21-16.