International badminton event a first for New Zealand

International badminton event a first for New Zealand

Players at both ends of the age spectrum are encouraging Kiwis to embrace the largest international badminton event ever to be held in New Zealand this weekend (Friday 20 – 22 March).

Kevin Dennerly-Minturn (25) and Richard Purser (72) will both be competing in the 7th World Chinese Badminton Teams Event at Trusts Arena, Waitakere, which has attracted 428 competitors representing seven countries.

Kevin Dennerly-Minturn says having an event of this calibre in New Zealand is huge for badminton here.

“This event has never before been held outside Asia - this is an exceptional opportunity to promote badminton and show off Auckland to players from all over the world,” says Mr Dennerly-Minturn.

Kevin is currently ranked 68 in the world, competed in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, trained in Denmark, and is looking to compete at the World Champs this year.

“Hosting this prestigious event is a great achievement for badminton in NZ. I am looking forward to being a part of it and seeing players of all ages, cultures, and countries coming together.

“Playing with my X-trm team mates in the open division and testing ourselves against such quality players will be amazing,” he says.

Kevin Purser is as equally enthusiastic about the event.

“Badminton has many great advantages. It has speed, fitness, and flexibility - in the Russian military it's compulsory. It's a sport the whole family can play, and you can play badminton for a very long time!

“This event will showcase national and international title holders from around the world including ex-world doubles champion Bobby Ertanto (Indonesia), ex-world singles no. 2 Ewe Hock Ong (Malaysia), Tracy Hallam ex- England no. 1, and ‘the rubber man’ Jia-Yang Cheng who was a Taiwanese singles player.
“There will be an exciting atmosphere, and the public can come and see the agility and endurance of this fabulous sport for free."

Taking up badminton at age three, Richard has had a distinguished playing and coaching career, securing 33 national senior titles and playing in four Commonwealth Games winning a bronze in the men’s doubles with his brother, in 1978.

NZ businessman John Wong successfully vied for rights to hold the event against several other would-be hosts, and says the support of the World Chinese Badminton Federation puts the future of badminton in New Zealand in a good position.

“Badminton is one of the fastest growing sports in the world with over 220 million people playing it to some degree, and without a doubt it will grow in popularity here too, ’” he says.

The 7th World Chinese Badminton Teams Event, officiated by the President of the World Chinese Badminton Federation, Jun-Yan Wu, Trusts Arena, 20 – 22 March.

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