Badminton: Locals notch good wins while star attraction prepares to play

Rangitoto College student Melissa Leviana took the honours in her first-round match at the New Zealand Open yesterday. Picture / Paul Estcourt

The big names come out to play today at the US$50,000 ($82,000) New Zealand Badminton Open with a full round of games including world top-20 player, top seed and defending champ Sairul Amar Ayob from Malaysia who faces talented New Zealand teenager Henry Tan.

Also on court is Kiwi No 1 John Moody, who had one of the best wins of his career at the highly rated Thailand Open last week.

Moody, originally from Northland plays Auckland's James Moffat.

Regular New Zealand visitor Andrew Smith from England starts his campaign with a clash against Kiwi Nikhil Medara.

He then has a potential showdown with the semi-retired Geoff Bellingham in the quarter-finals if all goes to plan.

Smith, the second seed in Auckland, is his country's top-ranked player at 20 on the world list.

Smith said that although the sport originated in England and had some top players, especially with the mixed combination of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms who won gold at the Commonwealth Games, it lacked recognition.

"It's a big participation sport. More people play than watch. In football more people watch than play," said the 22-year-old who bases himself Downunder for a few months of the year.

One of Smith's aims is the Beijing Olympics in 2008 although the London Olympics four years later is even more of an ambition.

Also on court today will be New Zealand's Commonwealth Games medal winner Dan Shirley and Renee Flavell in the mixed doubles and Shirley and Craig Cooper in the men's doubles.

In key matches yesterday, former top-10 ranked Ronald Susilo of Singapore scored an easy 20-minute victory over Auckland's Delius Tang 21-6, 21-7 to set up a clash against Ching Hung Cheng of Taipei.

A notable victory was by North Harbour's Melissa Leviana, 15, a Rangitoto High School student who defeated Fong-Meah Cheah of Australia 15-21, 21-14, 21-19.

Waikato's Maggie Chan had a solid win over Ireland's Ruth Kilkenny 22-20, 20-22, 21-16.

New Zealand Thomas Cup representative Alan Chan, 18, threw himself around the court to win in straight games over Singapore's Zi Liang Derek Wong 21-17, 21-16 and now faces Aussie teenager Jeff Tho in the second round.