Badminton: Waikato ones to beat

Tracey Hallam. Photo / Getty Images

Waikato will look to extend their individual dominance at the national badminton championships to the interprovincial teams event starting today in Hamilton.

Waikato players won three of five titles at last week's national championships, a timely fillip leading into the Wisden and Slazenger Cup events.

The mixed teams tournament dates back to 1934 and has been dominated by Auckland and North Harbour, with defending champions Waitakere coming into contention in recent years.

Waikato have yet to win the Wisden Cup title but now have the depth which suggests they will challenge strongly. Their team includes England's former world No 7 Tracey Hallam, former Dutch coach and national singles champion TJ Weistra, American Bjorn Seguin, who is applying to be eligible to play for New Zealand, and Peruvian Doriana Rivera Aliaga.

Their talents are complemented by Commonwealth Games team members Joe Wu and Oliver Leydon-Davis.

Waitakere, North Harbour, Auckland No 1 and No 2 and Southland are the other teams competing for the top-level Wisden Cup.

North Harbour feature Scotland No 1 Alistair Casey and former New Zealand No 1s John Moody and Rachel Hindley while Auckland have a strong line-up in doubles and mixed events with national representatives Henry Tam and Donna Haliday as well as former national coach Li Feng.

Waitakere have named noted doubles player Dan Shirley and former New Zealand No 1 Nick Hall while Southland can call on Commonwealth Games team member James Eunson.

- NZPA