Badminton: Silver Fern flies for great Dane

1.00pm

ATHENS- Danes waved the silver fern flag today as New Zealand badminton mixed doubles pair Daniel Shirley and Sara Runesten Petersen cruised to an Olympic Games first round victory.

Shirley and Runesten Petersen put a stranglehold on 22nd-seeded Canadians Philippe Bourret and Denyse Julien early and never loosened it, winning 15-4 15-6.

Among the small crowd who watched the 18th seeds demolish the Canadians then punch the air in delight were the parents and brother of Runesten Petersen, who was born in Denmark.

While the red and white Danish flag was more evident than most at the venue, the Runesten Petersen clan carried the silver fern.

Runesten Petersen, 30, was in top form at the net, her deft flicks, pushes and smashes never allowing the Canadians to settle.

"We got on attack from the beginning," she told NZPA.

"We didn't really give them a chance to go on attack, and we tried to turn it as soon as possible."

The win bought her a second round fight tomorrow with her homeland, in the shape of seventh seeded Danish pair Jonas Rasmussen and Rikke Olsen.

"We've played better," Runesten Petersen said. "The pressure's on them and we can just play our game."

Shirley, 25, told NZPA the venue had proved tricky.

Air conditioning turned up to stave off the oppressive Athens heat had created winds that affected the shuttlecock.

He had found it difficult to get the right height and weight on his shots, as the breeze pushed lofted shots down.

He was surprised with the amount of nervous tension among the players, who seemed intent on not losing, rather than on winning.

"Today there were heaps of upsets," he said.

"As soon as we came to the hall today there was tension from everyone... they were nervous and on the court everyone was trying not to make a mistake."

Runesten Petersen and Shirley have been partners since the 2001 world championships in Seville and won bronze a year later at the Manchester Commonwealth Games.

- NZPA