New Zealand's involvement at the badminton world championship in Guangzhou, China, was short-lived when the Kiwi players were beaten by highly-ranked opponents on day two of the tournament overnight (NZT).
Waikato brother and sister Oliver and Susannah Leydon-Davis, ranked 52nd, were defeated by the world No 7 Thai pair of Sudket Prapakamo and Saralee Thoungthongkam 21-8 21-11 in 26 minutes in the second round of competition.
Oliver Leydon-Davis then teamed up with Auckland's Kevin Dennerly-Minturn and were beaten by Germany's Ingo Kindervater and Johannes Schoettler 21-18 21-11 in the men's doubles first round.
The majority of the New Zealand players will return after the world champs to play in the New Zealand provincial teams event, the Wisden Cup, to be held at Waitakere from August 13-17.
The best performance by New Zealanders at the world champs came in 2005 in Anaheim, Los Angeles when Dan Shirley and Sara Runesten-Petersen won a bronze medal in the mixed competition.
