Badminton: Sars affects travel plans

A quartet of New Zealand representatives flew out yesterday in preparation for the world championships to be held in Birmingham, England, from May 12-18.

As a consequence of the Sars outbreak, and its impact on Asian countries in particular, the four players and national squad coach Li Feng will spend time preparing in France with the French national squad.

The players, all Auckland-based, Daniel Shirley, John Gordon, Geoff Bellingham and Sara Runesten Petersen.

Shirley and Gordon will contest the men's doubles, Shirley and Runesten Petersen the mixed doubles and Bellingham the men's singles.

All four were part of the successful team that competed at last year's Manchester Commonwealth Games. Their medal haul totalled three, including a first-ever silver medal.

The world championships represent the first opportunity for New Zealand players to earn qualifying points for next year's Olympics in Athens. The qualifying period began on April 1 and runs over a 12-month period to April 30 next year.

Those most likely to qualify are Shirley/Runesten Petersen (mixed doubles) and Shirley/Gordon (men's doubles). Both pairings achieved world rankings of sixth last year.

The championships and intensive training in France will also provide an excellent build-up for the Whyte Trophy against Australia in July. The trophy is a biennial contest and New Zealand have won it on the last three occasions.

- NZPA