Badminton: Olympic wait no excuse to relax

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Rather than sit around waiting to find out whether his Olympic dream might become a reality, Geoff Bellingham will head back on to the court tomorrow morning as top seed in the North Harbour and North Island Open badminton championships.

While he awaits a decision due from the International Federation in the next couple of the days, Bellingham should have no problems in winning the men's singles at the season's first domestic tournament.

With Nick Hall now working in Sydney and Dean Galt taking time out to concentrate on family business commitments in Wellington, Bellingham should be too good in the Open at the North Harbour courts. John Gordon is seeded second ahead of Chris Blair and Daniel Shirley.

Shirley, too, is awaiting the latest international ranking lists to see whether he and Tammy Jenkins have done enough to win a place in the Olympic mixed doubles.

With the injured Li Feng out and Rhona Robertson playing only doubles, Rebecca Gordon heads the seedings for the women's singles followed by Larisa Kishore, Lianne Shirley and Nicole Gordon.

Bellingham and Blair head the men's doubles field, while the experienced pairing of Robertson and Jenkins are reunited and should comfortably take the women's doubles from the Gordon sisters.

Shirley and Jenkins will use the mixed doubles as another step towards their Olympic bid.