Another Win for NZ
New Zealand has been involved in its third 3-2 result at the Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championships (world mixed teams event) held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and it is another win in their latest round robin contest. This time over Turkey.
Once again the men’s doubles pairing of Oliver Leydon-Davis and Kevin Dennerly-Minturn scored another win to remain unbeaten in all three ties for New Zealand at the competition. They started the tie with a straight game win for the Kiwis to give them the initiative.
Unfortunately Anna Rankin founding the going too tough in her singles and was beaten in straight games before Joe Wu was another hero scoring a 56 minute victory over Ramazan Ozturk 21-16 18-21 24-22 to put New Zealand ahead 2-1 overall.
However the Turks were able to come back in the women’s doubles as Amanda Brown and Kritteka Gregory lost in straight games.
The final match featured the brother and sister combination of Oliver and Susannah Leydon-Davis who stepped up with a 24 minute 22-20 21-11 triumph over Murat Sen and Ebru Yazgan to secure New Zealand a 3-2 win overall.
Earlier in the Sudirman Cup New Zealand was beaten 3-2 by Philippines in the first round and then beat Sri Lanka 3-2. Their next match in Level 3 Group A of the 19-26 May tournament is against Ukraine on Thursday.
Top seeds for the tournament are China, followed by Denmark and Malaysia third. New Zealand are seeded 25th out of 32 teams and are ranked above Australia in Group 3.
Results, Sudirman Cup first round robin match.
New Zealand 3 Turkey 2 (New Zealand names first).
Men’s doubles: Kevin Dennerly-Minturn/Oliver Leydon-Davis bt Ramazan Ozturk/ Emre Lale 21-17 21-10.
Women’s singles: Anna Rankin lt Ozge Bayrak 5-21 6-21,
Men’s singles: Joe Wu bt Ramazan Ozturk 21-16 18-21 24-22,
Women’s doubles: Amanda Brown/Kritteka Gregory lt Ozge Bayrak/Neslihan 10-21 12-21,
Mixed doubles: Oliver Leydon-Davis/Susannah Leydon-Davis bt Murat Sen/Ebru Yazgan 22-20 21-11.
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