Badminton: Chan feeling fit, confident for Commonwealth Games

Michelle Chan was disappointed in Delhi in 2010 when she lost in the playoff for a medal position. Photo / Getty Images

Michelle Chan has long had a dream and reckons she is well positioned to make it reality when she arrives in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games in July.

The country's leading badminton player, world ranking No 67 but in Commonwealth terms around No 8, is desperate to show her credentials second time around.

At Delhi in 2010 she lost in the playoff for a medal position - then six months later beat her opponent from that day. Small consolation.

"A lot of things have happened between Delhi and now and I definitely feel a much more complete player now. I think my chances are good going in and I'm really excited to have another chance."

That "between" reference would include the London Olympics in 2012, about which Chan claims to have put behind her. You suspect, however, what happened in the leadup to her non-selection still rankles.

With the top 16 expectation from the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Chan believed she had fulfilled all the requirements. Indeed, she had met the world badminton federation guidelines. But NZOC's were tougher.

Somewhere along the line there was a communication breakdown. Chan was not put forward by Badminton New Zealand.

At the time it was felt had her sport pushed her case hard they might have argued a case for a place. But BNZ didn't back her, adhering to the guidelines.

"I don't really want to go back because it was very, very tough. I did everything right, everything I possibly could and it was kind of taken away from me, I felt," she said. "But as athletes you get setbacks and it's helped me be tougher. I've learned from it."

Chan, 26, was born in Hong Kong, but moved to New Zealand with her parents at age 3.

For the last half dozen years she has been based in Denmark, initially in Copenhagen and more latterly Aarhus, the country's principal port city, playing professionally for the Hojbjerg club.

She has blended her time between club commitments and playing on the world circuit and is adamant her game has benefited from the experience.

It has meant spending less time in Auckland than she'd have liked.

Chan has been studying extra-murally through Massey University. She is finishing a degree majoring in psychology and looking to do post-grad study part time next year.

"You can't manage both (study and sport) fulltime and if I want to give everything to badminton, study will have to come second, and that's okay with me," she quipped.

In financial terms, Chan said badminton is not something she can live solely off. "It's quite a good amount [of pay]. But it's not only the financial side but the level of competition is so high. I am constantly being pushed and you can't get that anywhere else."

The New Zealand team's new coach, Svend Sorensen, also happens to be Chan's coach and the person who suggested she try her hand in Denmark. "I couldn't have asked for a better coach."

Chan is about to start a 12-week training camp in Copenhagen before going to Glasgow. She'll train twice a day - "I think I get Sundays off," she laughed - to make sure she gives herself every opportunity at the Commonwealth Games.

New Zealand have a team of eight going to the Games.

"It is quite an individual sport and being part of the New Zealand team is something special. We are known around the world for our team spirit and it's nice to having to do everything on your own, having someone behind your court."

New Zealand are ranked sixth in the Commonwealth. What chance a team and Chan medal double? In truth probably slim but for a sport which gets zero High Performance Sport assistance, it's a nice thought.

Where NZ stands
• New Zealand have a team of eight travelling to the Commonwealth Games.
• New Zealand have won 10 badminton medals at the Games, two silver and eight bronze.
• The last medal winners were mixed doubles pair Dan Shirley and Sara Runesten-Petersen, who won silver in Melbourne in 2006.