KEY POINTS:
Clocking up the air miles has paid a dividend for three badminton players, who yesterday had their cards marked for the Beijing Olympics in August.
North Harbour's John Moody will contest the men's singles, with Waikato's Craig Cooper and Renee Flavell of Auckland in the mixed doubles field. All three will be at their first Olympic Games. The New Zealand Olympic Committee criteria was that players must demonstrate they can make the top 16 in Beijing.
Moody, 25, had to get inside the top 24 for the singles and has qualified in 24th spot for the field of 38. For the mixed pair it was an easier equation; they got into the field of 16 by dint of qualifying 15th. All three are there on merit and did it the hard way, travelling the globe to play the international tournaments required to gain ranking points.
Badminton New Zealand chief executive Mike Kernaghan is chuffed for them.
"It's a fantastic ending for them," he said last night. "In the fifth largest sport, this little country has thrown up three athletes who have got to a very high level. It just goes to show if you work hard enough, have the desire and have a bit of talent you can actually go places."
Cooper, Flavell and Moody had to also have attained a top-16 finish in a Super Series tournament, which would demonstrate their capability of performing strongly in Beijing. Moody got his in Indonesia, Cooper and Flavell in Hong Kong.
There are eight seeds in the men's singles, but the randomness of the draw means Moody could draw the world No 21 or the world No 2 in the first round. The mixed doubles has four seeds and again Cooper and Flavell will sweat on the first round draw.
