MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands’ team schedule for the Brazil Badminton International Tournament released

Falklands’ Brownlee practicing for the qualifiers

The wait is finally over for the Falklands’ badminton team as they find out their opponents in the 27th Brazil Badminton International Cup, which will be played in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 27th to 30th September 2012.

The Falkland Islands only badminton club, Stanley Badminton Club, is sending four players to compete while England Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Rebecca Pantaney, will team up with Falkland Islanders Douglas Clark, Michael Brownlee and Laura Minto.

Falkland’s players Michael Brownlee and Douglas Clark will be the only players to compete in the men’s singles qualification round on 26th September. Eight players will proceed from this round into the main round which will commence the following day and feature players from all over the world.

In round one of qualifiers Brownlee (22) will face Brazil’s Victor Alves (17) who although has previously competed in the International Cup in 2010 and 2011, although he has not yet proceeded past the first round. If successful in his first match Brownlee will face Jose Victor Salgado, who has a bye into round two of the qualifiers. Also in the first round, Clark (35) will face a very young Brazilian, Vinicius Eduardo Bombona Gori (14), who was born in the same year that Clark represented the Falkland Islands at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpar. Fabio Da Silva Soares will be Clark’s next opponent if successful in round one.

The ladies singles main round predominately consists of Brazilian players although it also includes three Canadians and one American.

Falkland Islander, Laura Minto (18), in the ladies singles will face a relatively experienced player within Brazil, Brazilian Carolina Aoki Settani (26). If Minto wins she will face another fairly experienced albeit younger Brazilian, 18 year old Ana Paula Campos. Falklands coach and highly experienced player, Rebecca Pantaney (37), will represent England and compete in the first round against Brazil’s Mariana Pedrol Freitas (17). Brazil’s Renata Faustino will await Pantaney in the second round if successful.

Teaming up in the men’s doubles Clark and Brownlee will yet again face two young Brazilian’s; Nakao Matheus De Souza (16) and Bruno Soares De Moura (15). Players representing Norway, Peru, America, Sri Lanka and Scotland will also be represented.

In the ladies doubles Minto & Pantaney will compete again Brazil’s Fabiana Silva (24) and Paula Pereira (age unknown). Players from Canada and Peru will also be represented.

The Brazilian theme continues into the mixed doubles round where Brownlee and Minto will play Rafael Aurichio and Claudia Low and Clark and Pantaney will face Luis Martin and Carolina Aoki Settani.

By Roxanne King –SeAledPR – Stanley