Badminton Names Bulk of Junior Team for Oceania Champs   19 Dec 2014

For a number of New Zealand’s brightest young Badminton prospects Christmas and the New Year holiday period just got a little easier on the nerves with news of their selection to the New Zealand Junior Team to contest the Oceania Championships at North Harbour in February.

Badminton New Zealand has selected 11 of the 16 player squad following two training camps in November and December, with the final five spots to be announced following a final training camp in January in Napier (10 to 17 January).

Badminton New Zealand Chief Executive Joe Hitchcock says selecting a team of young players serves a number of purposes besides looking to perform with distinction at the Oceania Championships, with the national body very much in long term planning mode as it looks to establish a High Performance Programme.

“In selecting a team such as this Badminton New Zealand is conscious of developing players on and off the court for the long term. We must provide young players with a pathway that builds the skills they need to be successful in badminton on the international stage. We are excited to be building on the great platform that has been established by the support of the player’s families, coaches and Association. Longer term it is about these experiences helping them to win medals at future international events.

“There are of course challenges in that, not the least of which is funding. But we must take a lead in this space and show the funding agencies that we are doing good work in this area and justify an investment rather than sitting and hoping for a hand-out.”

The 11 players named are all from the Northern region, reflecting the current strength of those associations and are highlighted by three ‘triple crown’ (mixed, doubles, singles) winners from NZ Nationals this year in Sally Fu (triple crown 2014 U17 Nationals), Daxxon Vong (triple crown 2014 U19 Nationals) and Oscar Guo (triple crown 2014 U15 Nationals).

Former Danish National Under 15 Coach Peter Jensen is working with Badminton New Zealand to establish and build the High Performance Programme. Jensen is impressed with the quality of the team named and has no doubt competition will be intense for the final five spots in Napier next month.

“This is my first experience with a New Zealand team, having been here for eight months, so this is new for me, but I am told that this current group of teenagers is very good compared to previous generations here in New Zealand. The commitment of the players also is very good which is of course a great thing to see in young players.

“My experience is in Europe however so I am able to emphasise to this young group the work they have to do in order to eventually compete on the world stage. This is not just about next year, it is longer term with this group and others that are coming through. That is why you will see some 14 and 15 year olds in this group, it is both the talent they possess now but also it is about developing these young players in the next few years.”

17 year old Daxxon Vong (Auckland) is pleased to be named to the team nice and early, meaning he can concentrate on his likely core role at the tournament, one he is pleased to be able to play in each day just a short drive from home.

“I am pleased to be named so early by Badminton New Zealand, I can now focus on what I need to work on which is primarily my singles game. Singles is very different strategy and a different game, you have to think more and make decisions for yourself throughout.

“Playing at home is great, a once in a lifetime chance to play the Oceania Juniors at home. Getting support from the family, friends and my coach Tony Griffin will be great, and hopefully I will play better.”

Daxxon won’t be alone from the family with young brother Dacmen (14) also named early to the team, ensuring a very proud Vong family courtside in February.

The final five players will be chosen from the final training camp in Napier from January 10 to 17. One of those hoping to be fit in time for the Oceania’s is Nicco Tagle (North Harbour), the youngster dislocated his knee at the Nationals and is on the road to recovery but must first prove his fitness to the selectors.

New Zealand Junior Team for 2015 Oceania Junior Championships
North Harbour

12th – 15th February Oceania Jnr Individual Championships (open entry)

15th – 18th February Oceania Jnr Team Championships

Celine Shao, Auckland

Rowena Devathasan, Auckland

Christine Zhang, Waitakere

Sally Fu, Auckland

Selena Wu, North Harbour

Erena Calder-Hawkins, Waikato

Oscar Guo, North Harbour

Ben Hillier, Auckland

Chris Steeghs, Waikato

Dacmen Vong, Auckland

Daxxon Vong, Auckland

Coach: Peter Jensen

* Five players to be added on January 17 following the training camp in Napier

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