Badminton: Kiwis stumble at semis

Success eluded New Zealanders in the Ballarat International badminton event in Australia at the weekend.

There were plenty of black shirts in the semifinals but only one New Zealander reached a final.

Commonwealth Games representative Rebecca Gordon was the best New Zealander, easily reaching the women's singles final which she lost to Australian Lenny Permana 1-11 5-11.

In the men's singles, New Zealand No 1 Geoff Bellingham lost his semifinal in three games to England's Andrew Smith, who prevailed 17-15 in the third.

Also making the semifinals were John Moody and James Moffat in the men's doubles, Donna Cranston and were Kimberley Windsor in the women's doubles, and Craig Cooper and Gordon in the mixed doubles.