Pair to make dream debut

ROBYN EDIE/Southland Times

LUNGE TIME: New Zealand badminton representative Anna Rankin, right, lunges for the shuttlecock as Australian player Boris Ma looks on during an exhibition doubles match played at Southland Boys' High School yesterday.

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The script couldn't have been inked any better, according to passionate Southland badminton administrator Nigel Skelt.

Tonight Badminton Southland will get the chance to showcase their two big talents on one of the biggest stages.

In an unusual move, the New Zealand management has confirmed two of its selections well in advance of tonight's third Whyte Trophy test against Australia at Stadium Southland in Invercargill.

The measure is aimed at giving Southland badminton fans a heads-up to come along and support Anna Rankin and James Eunson, who tonight will make their debut for the New Zealand senior team.

Tonight's debutants have created buzz among the Southland badminton folk as New Zealand eye a 3-nil clean sweep over Australia.

"It's a dream really," Skelt told The Southland Times yesterday.

"To have two 19-year-olds from Southland playing for New Zealand is outstanding, but for them to do it for the first time in Invercargill is something to be really proud of. It couldn't have been scripted any better could it?" Skelt said.

Rankin and Eunson have had to watch from the bench during the first two tests at Stadium Southland because frontline singles players Rachel Hindley and Joe Wu have been preferred by the selectors. But tonight they will step aside, setting up a special contest for the Rankin and Eunson families. Rankin is likely to take on Leisha Cooper in the women's singles while Eunson should go head to head with Boris Ma. Skelt said tonight's test would also provide a massive eye-opener to young, aspiring badminton players in Southland.

"It shows them what can be done, and that it can be done from Invercargill," he said. "There's been a lot of hard work for them to get to here and it's a positive for the grassroots development we have," Skelt said.

Rankin, along with other New Zealand and Australian players, visited Southland Boys' High School and Southland Girls' High yesterday to promote their sport. Rankin teamed up with Australian singles men's player Boris Ma to take on New Zealand manager Roger Southby and Southland Boys' High teacher Geoff Folster in an exhibition game.

Folster was a team-mate of Rankin when Southland won the Slazenger Cup New Zealand provincial tournament in Auckland last month.

The third test between New Zealand and Australia will start at 6pm at Stadium Southland.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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M.Jivananthan Nair   #1   11:56 pm Sep 09 2009

This is something really great for Southland Badminton. I had the priviledge to train both Anna and James last year. And this, is great for other juniors in Southland and Congratulations to the Southland Badminton for all the work they put in all these years.

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