AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Wins for Australia and New Zealand set up an all Trans-Tasman gold medal showdown in the Oceania Mixed Team Championships at the X-TRM North Harbour Centre in Auckland today.
Australia were too slick for plucky New Caledonia winning their tie 5-0 with New Zealand mirroring that scoreline in their win over Tahiti. The result also means an all-French affair for bronze at 4pm NZST.
Matthew Chau and Gronya Somerville turned in a formidable performance in their Mixed Doubles win over New Caledonian 14-year-olds Ronan Ho-Yagues and Dgenyva Matauli, 21-8, 21-7.
In the Men’s Singles, Michael Fariman shook off early resistance from Yohan De Geoffroy to eventually win 21-10, 21-6, while in the Women’s Singles Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen breezed by Soizick Ho-Yagues 21-8, 21-4.
Olympic Games-aspirants Chau and Sawan Serasinghe were all class in victory over Ronan Ho-Yagues and De Geoffroy who despite a 21-8, 21-6, defeat showed glimpses that in time they may one day be a force on the Oceania stage.
Australia wrapped up the tie when Joy Lai and Somerville downed Soizick Ho-Yagues and Matauli 21-4, 21-7, to completed the 5-0 clean sweep and keep Australia on track for their fourth consecutive gold medal in this event and their sixth overall.
In the morning’s other tie, New Zealand coach Peter Jensen made good on his promise to hand starts for Vicki Copeland and Asher Richardson as his team staved off Tahiti.
Kevin James Dennerly-Minturn and Danielle Tahuri got New Zealand off to a flyer in the Mixed Doubles beating Aurelie Bouttin and Kyliam Scilloux 21-8 in both games.
Copeland was too strong for Pauline Segrestan in her 21-4, 21-10, Women’s Singles win while Scilloux gave Richardson a close run in the first game of their Men’s Singles clash before losing 21-14. The second game saw Richardson take control as he registered a 21-9 win.
Michelle Chan Ky and Susannah Leydon-Davis kept New Zealand’s momentum up in the Women’s Doubles winning 21-11 over Bouttin and Chloe Segrestan who would be relatively satisfied with their showing.
Dylan Soedjasa and Niccolo Tagle completed victory for themselves and their team when they beat Quentin Bernaix and Hugo Sautereau 21-8, 21-8.
The stage is set for two exciting matches with Australia taking on New Zealand for gold or silver and Francophone rivals New Caledonia and Tahiti chasing bronze.
The action continues at 4pm NZST at the X-TRM North Harbour Centre tonight.
The Oceania Men’s and Women’s Team Championships begin on Friday 19 February with the medal matches taking place the next day at the same venue.
ENDS
Extra Information
Oceania Mixed Team Championship Stage 2
Results and Standings available here
DRAW
Oceania Mixed Team Championship – Stage 2
Thursday 18 February
10.00am NZST Australia v New Caledonia
10.00am NZST New Zealand v Tahiti
4.00pm NZST Australia v New Zealand
4.00pm NZST New Caledonia v Tahiti
SQUAD LISTS
Australia
(Men): Matthew Chau, Michael Fariman, Anthony Joe, Robin Middleton, Sawan Serasinghe.
(Women): Hsuan-Yu Wendy Chen, Leanne Choo, Joy Lai, Gronya Somerville.
Guam
(Men): David Yao, Sunardi Li and John Conducto.
(Women): Michelle Kremper, Grace Cai, Sarah Cai, Emily Yang.
New Zealand
(Men): Kevin James Dennerly-Minturn, Oliver Leydon-Davis, Asher Richardson, Dylan Soedjasa, Niccolo Tagle.(Women): Michelle Chan Ky, Vicki Copeland, Susannah Leydon-Davis, Anna Rankin, Danielle Tahuri, Deborah Yin.
New Caledonia
(Men): Yohan De Geoffroy, Ronan Ho-Yagues, Thomas Lahaut, Loic Mennesson and Fabian Nadmimin.(Women): Soizick Ho-Yagues, Johanna Kou, Dgenyva Matauli and Cecilia Moussy.
Tahiti
(Men): Leo Cucuel, Michael Ajonc, Quentin Bernaix, Hugo Sautereau, Kyliam Scilloux.
(Women): Aurelie Bouttin, Coralie Bouttin, Chloe Segrestan, Pauline Segrestan.
Tonga
(Men): Lauti Naaniumotu, Metuisela Vainikolo.
(Women): Lusia Ki Taulanga, Litea Lupe Moe Valu Tatafu.
Ends
NEXT CHAMPIONSHIP:
Oceania Men’s and Women’s Team Championships
19-20 February, 2016
Auckland, New Zealand
Media Contact
Julie Carrel
Chief Operating Officer
Badminton Oceania
Phone +64 9 6003097
Mobile +64 21 760327
Skype Julie.carrel
Email julie@oceaniabadminton.org
www.oceaniabadminton.org
