Badminton: Family ties lure home doubles ace

New Zealand's most successful badminton partnership is breaking up.

Sara Runesten Petersen is heading back home to Denmark after June's Uber Cup international teams event in Japan.

That will mean the end of her mixed doubles pairing with Dan Shirley which produced the country's first world championship medal, a bronze in Los Angeles last year.

Runesten Petersen first came to New Zealand 11 years ago before settling down in 2000.

She won two medals at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002, a silver with Nicole Gordon in the women's doubles and a bronze with Shirley.

The 30-year-old has been feeling the pull of home for some time. It was just a case of choosing the right moment to make the break.

"I have put it off a bit because of the badminton and I've been having the time of my life," she said. "But all my family are back in Denmark and I do miss them."

The pinnacle of the world champs medal helped make up her mind, and another Games medal in Melbourne will be a nice finishing point.

Runesten Petersen won't be entirely lost to New Zealand badminton. She's keen to put something back for what she's received.

"I want to stay involved and give some knowledge back to the juniors. I feel that's very important. [Badminton NZ boss] Peter Dunne wants to keep in touch and if players are coming over I can help them out."

She's going to play club games in Denmark but will also have a chance to get on with other aspects of life.

Yesterday, Runesten Petersen helped New Zealand to a 5-0 romp over Kenya in their opening mixed teams pool B match.

She and Shirley beat Victor Odera and Anna Nganga 21-3, 21-5.

New Zealand play Jamaica this morning and Uganda in the afternoon before the crunch tie of the group, against Australia tomorrow.