United colours of New Zealand

Fifteen-member squad has players and support staff of five national origins

PUNE: The New Zealanders, who finished 12th in the last edition of the Junior World Badminton Championship, are here not to win the championship but to get valuable exposure.

This team is unique in more ways than one. Eight of 15-member squad have their origins in other countries. Four coaches are from three different parts of the globe and four of the eleven players are from four different countries. Tyitte Weistra, their main coach from Holland, is a 10-time national player and has been with New Zealand for the last four years. Coaches Thana Balan Harikrishnan and Jinnifer Doo are from Malaysia and Jennifer Kim Jinnheyus is from Korea. “It’s great that all of us come under one umbrella and work for the country,” says Weistra.

Girls singles player Gregory Kritteka has her origins in Chennai. Two of the players, Dhoray Ashraf and Ang Emily, are from Malaysia, while Chan Michelle is from Hong Kong.

The team has been in India for over three weeks, attending a workshop at the Padukone Badminton Academy in Bangalore. They are now in Pune for the World Junior Championship.