Badminton: Hard work pays for young star

Rotorua badminton star Renee Ainsley hopes months of hard work will pay off when she takes to the court in Australia at the weekend.

The 16-year-old is the only Bay of Plenty player in the New Zealand Northern Region under 17 team that will compete for the Li-Ning June Bevan Trophy from Saturday. The four-day tournament in Hobart involves under 17 Australian state sides as well as New Zealand Northern and Central Region teams. Following the team competition, Ainsley will play in the Australasian under 17 championships.

Ainsley, a Western Heights High School student, said she was excited about her first overseas tournaments. "I have no nerves yet but my first game I will probably feel it."

Since being named in the side Ainsley has travelled hundreds of kilometres each week in order to train with her team mates.

"We have four-hour trainings every Sunday in Auckland, they've been going for about nine weeks," she said. "Mum's not exactly excited by the petrol money but it's not actually too bad once you're doing it. It's definitely been worth it, apparently I have improved heaps."

A member of the Utuhina Badminton Club, Ainsley said she was feeling in good shape ahead of the intense week of competition, despite a niggling injury.

"I've got a bit of a sore leg but I've been to the physio and it's getting better."

The Northern Region team is one of the favourites for the title, having won the trophy 20 times in the last 29 years. It's a record Ainsley wants to help maintain.

"To win the teams tournament and come home with a gold medal would be nice."

Ainsley said she had no firm goal for the Australasian championships, where she will contest the singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She said her best chance may come in the mixed doubles where she will partner Auckland's Vivian Washington.

A Bay of Plenty representative since the under 12s Ainsley is in her first season with the senior provincial side, where she recently found herself playing doubles alongside mum Lisa Ainsley.

It was an experience neither are in a hurry to repeat.

"It doesn't work well, it's not good," Ainsley laughed. "I can't play with Mum, she has a different style of play to me."

As for who wins the mother-daughter battle?

"It's tight," Ainsley said. "I have played against her once but she managed to beat me ... just."

Mrs Ainsley said her family were grateful to the Utuhina and Rotorua badminton clubs who provided financial support towards her daughter's trip.