Big promotion for Badminton Manawatu

The Badminton Manawatu top masters team has been promoted to division one of the Badminton New Zealand inter-association league, in what could be a first.

Manawatu’s representative masters badminton side completed the season with two further convincing wins in the national division two inter-association in Rotorua at the weekend.

The two wins, both 8-4 against Waitakere and North Harbour, meant the team went undefeated for the season and won division two and promotion to the elite division one for next season.

Manawatu was in division four just six seasons ago. It is believed this may be the first senior rep team to reach the top division in Manawatu’s history.

Against Waitakere, Manawatu won three of the women’s doubles and just one of the men’s, a match won easily by Dave Rogers and

newcomer Sujay Prabakar.

The score was tied at 4-4 before Manawatu won all four mixed doubles.

In the earlier tie, Manawatu won six of the eight doubles against North Harbour, effectively securing the result before the mixed, even though super vet, Shane Ogier withdrew hurt.

The standout for the weekend was No 1 women, Sandra Lynch, who again led the way with six wins out of six. She played entertaining doubles with both Alpha Deloy and Cherri Yarwood, and tactical mixed with Wayne Young.

Lynch ended the season undefeated. She didn’t lose a set in 24 matches.