Badminton: Badminton name young team for Delhi Games

Photo / Brett Phibbs

An eight-strong badminton team was yesterday named to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October.

New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary general and Commonwealth Games team selector Barry Maister said the youthful team would only benefit from the experience.

"They're a young group of players and will face some tough competition in Delhi," he said.

"Many still have five to seven years ahead of them before they hit their peak and Delhi will provide invaluable international experience"

One of the youngest members of the team, 20-year-old Oliver Leydon-Davis, mixes twice daily trainings with full-time study for a Bachelor of Business Management at Waikato University and a part-time job as a warehouse assistant.

"It's pretty full on and I'm tired by the end of the week," he said.

"Some weeks are worse than others, but it's worth it."

Leyden-Davis said his strongest discipline was the men's doubles which he competes in alongside 22-year-old Henry Tam, and hopes that New Delhi will be an important stepping stone in his career.

"I've definitely got my eyes on the Olympics and going to Delhi is a step along the way."

Tam also pairs with Donna Haliday, 29, in the mixed doubles to form the team's top ranked partnership at 25th in the world.

Haliday, who works full-time with Badminton Auckland, said her challenge will be ensuring a favourable draw in New Delhi.

"We've got a busy schedule ahead training and competing in Asia and Tahiti before the games. Our objective is to stay within a fifth to eighth seeding to get a good draw.

"We're currently sixth and our challenge is to stay there. We've got a tough competition ahead of us."

The team is: Joe Wu, James Eunson, Henry Tam, Oliver Leyden-Davis, Donna Haliday, Anna Rankin, Danielle Barry, Michelle Chan.

- NZPA