New Zealand's only Olympic badminton aspirants, Dan Shirley and Sara Runesten Petersen, have left for a series of crucial tournaments on the road to Athens.
Before returning to New Zealand on April 12, they will have played in six international tournaments in Europe and Asia.
The richest is the Korea Open from March 29 to April 4, which will feature $293,000 in prizemoney.
Badminton NZ technical coach Li Feng is accompanying the pair, currently ranked 18th in the world.
Shirley and Runesten Petersen will need to move into the top 16 to guarantee a place at the Athens Olympics.
They will have their best chance to climb the rankings at the Oceania championships in Auckland in late April.
That tournament will be their last chance to pick up vital ranking points.
- NZPA
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