Badminton: Win for Moody on tough day for Kiwis

Rachel Hindley lost to Australia's Chia-Chi Huang in the women's final. Picture / Kenny Rodger

It wasn't easy for the New Zealanders at the North Harbour Badminton International yesterday, with pressure on the younger players to step up following retirement of a number of former stars.

Kiwi No 1 John Moody took revenge on England's Nicholas Kidd in the men's final after losing to the same opponent in the Ballarat final last week.

This time Moody, 22, was able to reverse the score for a hard-fought 21-19, 22-20 victory against Kidd who is ranked 54 in the world, 17 places below Moody.

Australia's latest badminton recruit Chia-Chi Huang, formerly of Taipei, easily accounted for Rachel Hindley in straight games in the women's final. Huang, the victor at the New Zealand International at the same venue two years ago, won 21-7, 21-12.

New Zealand's most notable player of the past few years, Dan Shirley teamed up with younger sister Gabby to make the mixed final against Philippines brother, sister duo Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion.

The Kiwis won the first game 21-17 and were leading 17-14 in the second set before the Asuncions won the next seven points to take the match into a third set.

In the third game Kennevic stepped up the tempo of his play and started to dominate the match while Gabby Shirley started to fade. The Philippines pair eventually won 21-13.

Dan Shirley did take home one title, combining with Commonwealth Games teammate Craig Cooper to defeat North Harbour's Henry Tam and Waikato's Joe Wu in the men's doubles final.

The women's doubles was won in straight games by Hindley and Southland's Kimberly Windsor over Donna Cranston (Waikato) and Auckland's Renee Flavell.

In the New Zealand under 21s finals, Auckland's Michelle Chan had a three set win over Vina, an Indonesian student who has recently moved to New Zealand. Auckland's Alan Chan beat North Harbour's Dean Nuttall to take the men's title.