Youth & Experience Win At Badminton Finals

Teenage Waikato badminton player Bjorn Seguin continued his domination in singles at events around the country, but the more veteran competitors are still holding onto the doubles titles after the latest tournament of the season.

American-born Seguin who is currently studying at Waikato University, is ineligible to be selected for New Zealand in an international team event or the Commonwealth Games as he does not have New Zealand citizenship won the men’s singles final at the North Harbour Open in straight games defeating local Daniel Forrest 21-5 21-17.

The win follows Seguin’s recent U23 title and his continual rise in the sport. He dropped just one game on his way to the title at North Harbour and now has international events in Australia and the Auckland International next month.

The women’s singles was won by North Harbour’s Jessica Jonggowisastro who took three games to overcome Southland’s Anna Rankin. Despite studying in Otago and having limited amount of time on court Jonggowisastro was about to beat top seed Clare Chapple in the semis and then account for Rankin 23-21 19-21 21-11 for the title.

Former World Champs medalist Dan Shirley, 30 remains one of the few players from the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games team to still be playing and proved experience counts for a lot. He teamed with fellow Waitakere competitor, Simon Koo to beat the Auckland teenage pair of Ashraf Dhoray and Delius Tang in straight games in the men’s doubles.

Shirley also won the mixed final by combining with his sister, Gabby Aves against the New Zealand team pairing of Henry Tam and Donna Halliday. The match went to three games with the brother and sister team eventually winning form a set down 15-21 21-6 21-17.

The women’s doubles final also had the older pair of Halliday and Danielle Barry come away winners against younger opponents. Barry and Halliday defeated the Waitakere pair of Kritteka Gregory and Mary O’Connor in two games.

North Harbour Badminton Open:

Results:

Men’s singles final:

Bjorn Seguin(Waikato) bt Daniel Forrest(Nth Harbour) 21-5 21-17

Women’s singles final:

Jessica Jonggowisastro(Nth Harbour) bt Anna Rankin(Southland) 23-21 19-21 21-11

Men’s doubles final:

Simon Koo(Waikatere)/Dan Shirley(Waitakere) bt Ashraf Dhoray(Auckland)/Delius Tang(Auckland) 21-12 21-14

Women’s doubles final:

Danielle Barry(Waitakere)/Donna Halliday(Auckland) bt Kritteka Gregory(Waitakere)/Mary O’Connor(Waitakere) 21-19 21-18

Mixed doubles final:

Dan Shirley(Waikatere)/Gabby Aves(Waitakere) bt Henry Tam(Auckland)/Donna Halliday(Auckland) 15-21 21-6 21-17