Badminton: NZ pair reach German Open semis

New Zealand mixed badminton pair Dan Shirley and Sara Runesten Petersen showed they are on track for the Commonwealth Games with an excellent showing at the German Open.

They reached the semifinals of the three Star US$80,000 ($116,890) at Mulheim yesterday before losing 15-11 7-15 5-15 to eventual tournament winners and Olympic champions Zhang Jun and Gao Ling of China.

The New Zealand pair, who won bronze at the world championships last year, were the only combination to take a match off the Chinese duo.

New Zealand's Commonwealth Games team now head to England to play in the prestigious four star All England championships.

Results:

Mixed doubles -

Quarterfinals: Dan Shirley/Sara Runesten Petersen bt David Lindley/Suzanne Rayappan (England) 15-9 15-6

Semifinals: Shirley/Runesten Petersen lost to Zhang Jun/Gao Ling (China) 15-11 7-15 5-15

- NZPA