NSW Open Team Victory

This year the 2011 Li-Ning Ede Clendinnen Shield Teams Event/Australian Closed Championships was held in Burnie, Tasmania. The New South Wales team, sponsored by ACBA, comprised of a team of 12 - 6 males (Honesto Buendia, Cheesun Choong, Michael Fariman, Ben Gomez, Bosco Kwok and Raymond Tam) and 6 females (Leilei Huang, Elena Kwok, Chameka Madurawe, Susan Wang, Lujia Wu and Michelle Zhang). The team event format consists of 13 matches - 3 men singles, 3 women singles, 2 men doubles, 2 women doubles and 3 mixed doubles.

This is an annual event starting with the team event (Ede Clendinnen Shield Teams Event) followed by the individuals event (Australian Closed Championships). The team event was held on the 20^th -23^rd of August, with 5 teams vying for the right to be the number one state in the country. The first tie played was against last year’s champions, South Australia. The tie turned out to be a close fight but NSW managed to come out on top, winning 8 matches out of the 13 (8-5 final result).

The second tie, played against Western Australia turned out to be the toughest matches for the NSW Team. After the singles and doubles matches, the tie was level at 5-5. Strong performances by Cheesun Choong/Leilei Huang and Bosco Kwok/Michelle Zhang in the mixed doubles secured the tie 7-6 for NSW with Raymond Tam/Susan Wang losing their number one mixed doubles in a tough 3 set, going down in the last set, 25-23.

Coming off the tough tie, NSW had to play two teams the next day against The Territories and Tasmania. Resting key players, NSW showed their dominance against the two teams, winning against The Territories 11-2 and Tasmania 12-1.

Going into the last day of the teams event, it shaped up to be an epic final tie, with NSW playing Victoria. Both teams were unbeaten at this stage and looking to maintain that record. The tie was close, with both teams trading game for game in the beginning. Strong performances in singles by Michael Fariman, Bosco Kwok, Michelle Zhang and Chameka Madurawe gave NSW a 4-2 lead heading into the doubles. Both teams picked up the intensity, coming off even winning 2 doubles matches each. Highlight in the doubles belonged to Elena Kwok/Leilei Huang winning the second ladies doubles in a hard fought 3 set victory. Going into mixed doubles with a 6-4 lead, Raymond Tam/Susan Wang had the chance to secure victory for NSW and they didn’t take long to that, with an overwhelming 21-9, 21-7 win. With that, the title and the Clendinnen Shield went to NSW.

All Ede Clendinnen Shield match results can be viewed online: 

http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=7BCB16EC-03F8-42C6-B7B1-2B8B49C0FD07

Results of the Australian Closed Championships can be viewed here:

http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=2D48C632-F8DA-4512-9156-FE4464148662

A big congratulations to the NSW team for their stunning victory, which puts us in a great position as defending champions for the event next year which will be held in Sydney.

Upcoming Tournaments

Our next tournament will be held on 29 & 30th October. There will be a mixed veterans division, and a junior division.

Venue: Hurstville Aquatic Centre.

Please download the appropriate entry form and submit by 14th October.

Junior Entry Form

Veterans Team Event Entry Form