Wildcards carry kiwi hopes at Barfoot & Thompson NZ Badminton Open

New Zealands best badminton players will take on the world at the Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand Badminton Open played at the North Shore Events Centre this week (from May 1st to 6th), but such is the quality of the tournament that most will have to fight their way through qualifying to reach the main draw.

The BWF Super 300 tournament is the showpiece event for the sport in New Zealand, attracting many of the worlds leading players, headlined by Chinese superstar and current world number 7 Lin Dan, the two time Olympic Games gold medalist is the top seed in the mens singles.

In total the tournament boasts two top ten players or combinations, 12 players or combinations in the top 20 in the world, and an amazing 40 players or combinations ranked inside the top 50 in the world.

Such is the quality of international entries that Abhinav (Mani) Manota (North Harbour) and Sally Fu (Auckland) are the only Kiwis automatically in the main draw of the singles, receiving wildcards into the mens and womens singles respectively, leaving others to play through qualifying, or to play in main draw doubles or mixed doubles.

26-year-old Manota is the current National mens singles and mixed (with Justine Villegas) champion and is also the Oceania mens singles champion and is understandably excited about the prospect of playing in such a high-profile tournament without having to leave home.

"I am really excited and looking forward to it, especially with the wildcard putting me in the main draw. This is a huge opportunity for me, especially playing an Indian opponent who is high up in the rankings, that is cool for me.

"This is a high-level tournament, with Lin Dan coming here especially. I am excited and looking forward to being on court."

Called Mani by all who know him, Manota arrived in New Zealand in 2014, having left home in India to study for one year in Christchurch. He had no plans to play at a high level but was encouraged by fellow Harbour player Dylan Soedjasa to move to Auckland to get more exposure and play some of the bigger national tournaments.

Manotas status now allows him to fly the New Zealand flag at BWF events, but he has hopes of one day wearing the silver fern on an even bigger stage.

"I want one day to play for New Zealand at the Olympic Games, I have some hoops to jump through in terms of my paperwork and gaining a New Zealand passport, but my dream is to play at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Commonwealth Games."

As well as that wildcard into the mens singles, Manota will play with Justine Villegas (North Harbour) in the mixed doubles.

North Harbour is not only the local and supporting Association but has the greatest representation with a dozen players taking to the courts at the North Shore Events Centre.

Badminton North Harbour CEO Glenn Cox is delighted to once again be supporting the event and having such a showcase for the sport played in his own backyard.

"It is extremely important to us, it offers our players the chance to play at the highest level, but also gives younger players something to aspire to, they can see badminton at the highest level in person."

Cox is proud of the representation in the tournament from his Association and says that is the result of much hard work by many people.

"We have seen strong results as an Association with many of our players ranked in the top New Zealand positions and our teams performing exceptionally well, the programme is in a pretty good place. Hopefully the players coming through and in the Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand Open reflects the pathways we are providing to help them reach the highest level, it is rewarding to see the number of Harbour players on display this week.

"We are just proud to do our bit, to be the official training venue for the tournament, that again gives our players and coaches the chance to see the international talent up close and in person. But I know I speak on behalf of everyone when I say we are delighted to do all we can to support Julie (Carrel - Tournament Director) and Badminton New Zealand in the hosting of this tournament."

New Zealand players in the Barfoot & Thompson NZ Badminton Open

North Shore Events Centre

May 1st to 6th

Tickets and information at www.nzbadmintonopen.com

All players NH unless otherwise stated

Ricky Cheng & Joshua Feng, mens doubles; Joshua Feng & Shauna Lee (Waitakere) in mixed doubles; Oscar Guo, mens singles and with Dacmen Vong (Auckland), mens doubles; Abhinav Manota, mens singles, and with Justine Villegas, mixed doubles; Tamara Otene & Jacqueline Yu (Auckland), womens doubles; Anona Pak & Francisca Rahardja, womens doubles, and with Maika Phillips, mixed doubles; Dylan Soedjasa & Susannah Leydon-Davis, mixed doubles; Alyssa Tagle & Sally Fu (Auckland), womens doubles, and with Dacmen Vong (Auckland), mixed doubles; Nicco Tagle & Alan (Auckland), mens doubles, and with Francisca Rahardja, mixed doubles; Justine Villegas & Lina Lee, womens doubles; Soomi Lee (Waitakere), Jasmine Ng (Auckland), Danny Oud (Auckland), Ben Perkinson (Waikato), Ella Smith (Southland), Chris Steeghs (Waikato), Ashley Tan (Auckland), Ryan Tong (Auckland), Jasmonjot Virk (Waikato), Yonshie Xie (Waitakere), .

Schedule of Play - all games at North Shore Events Centre

Tuesday 1st May - qualifying from 10:00am, mixed doubles main draw from 3pm, Smash for Starship event launch and Charity Event from 6pm featuring two main draw mixed doubles from 8:30pm

Wednesday 2nd May - from 10:00am

Thursday 3rd May - from 2:00pm

Friday 4th May - quarterfinals from 5:00pm

Saturday 5th May - semifinals from 1:00pm

Sunday 6th May - finals from 1:00pm

The tournament gets underway on Tuesday May 1st at the North Shore Events Centre, with a charity event scheduled for the Tuesday evening to launch the tournament on a night that will feature fun, entertainment, a charity auction and two main draw mixed doubles matches.

Media and fans are invited to attend and purchase tickets to Smashing for Starship at the North Shore Events Centre, a fundraising event that will provide those fans (and media) the chance to play on the tournament courts, alongside stars of the tournament and special guests including former All Black Keven Mealamu, current Mystics and former Silver Fern netballer Anna Harrison, and leading New Zealand tennis player Marina Erakovic.

The night will include finger food, entertainment and the auction of some exclusive items, with all proceeds going towards Starship Foundation, the official charity of the Barfoot & Thompson New Zealand Badminton Open, before the evening concludes with the playing of the two main draw mixed doubles matches.

For more on Smashing for Starship, CLICK HERE

The HSBC BWF World Tour is a circuit of 26 tournaments attracting the top world ranked players in singles (mens and womens) and doubles (mens, womens and mixed).

Players on the Tour compete in the 26 tournaments throughout the year gaining ranking points towards qualification in a race to the year ending finale, the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals - the best of the best.

The 26 tournaments are divided into five levels - Super 1000 (three tournaments), Super 750 (five tournaments), Super 500 (seven tournaments) and Super 300 (eleven tournaments). Each of these tournaments offers different ranking points and prize money. The highest points and prize pool is offered at the Super 1000 level.

The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals held in December is the ultimate goal for players on the World Tour and only the top eight players in each of the five disciplines of the HSBC Race to Guangzhou Rankings qualify to compete in the season finale.

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