Badminton: Kiwis in three out of five finals

Rachel Hindley has reached the final of the women's singles. Picture / Kenny Rodger

New Zealand players have reached three out of five finals at the Victoria Badminton International in Australia as they build up for the US$50,000 ($81,000) New Zealand International in Auckland this week.

Only in the men's singles, where top player John Moody was playing in Thailand, and the men's doubles, where two New Zealand combinations were beaten in the semis, did no Kiwis make the finals.

Rachel Hindley ranked at No 19 in the world, kept up with her seeding to reach the women's singles' final.

She defeated the talented Vina who looks set to become a New Zealand representative in the future.

Hinley will face former Taipei player Chia-Chi Huang, who now plays for Australia, in the final. When the two clashed in the North Harbour International in June, Huang won in straight games.

Auckland's Renee Flavell has teamed up with Donna Cranston to make the women's doubles final and with Dan Shirley to book a spot in the mixed final.

Flavell and Cranston had a steady win over Aussies Erin Carroll and Susan Dobson in their semi to set up a difficult match against Australia's best pair, Kellie Lucas and Kate Wilson-Smith, who overcame New Zealand teenagers Danielle Barry and Emma Rodgers in three tough games.

Flavell making the mixed playoff with Shirley gives plenty of hope for New Zealand in the future if they continue their combination in tournaments further ahead.

They beat fellow Kiwis Cranston and Commonwealth Games rep Craig Cooper in the semis in a close match 21-19, 21-17 and now face Aussie Dobson and Glenn Warfe. Flavell and Shirley play together this week in Auckland.

In the men's doubles, Shirley and Cooper lost to experienced Aussie Ashley Brehaut and Malaysian Aji Basuki Sindoro in a tight match.

Kiwis Stephen Lee and Joe Wu were beaten by a Taiwanese combination in straight games in the other semifinal.