News

 

OTTAWA, August 5, 2010 – In her last international competition before retirement, Anna Rice (Vancouver, BC), Canada’s top-ranked female badminton player, ranked 29^th in the world, will lead a very talented group of Canadian badminton players into Delhi, India in October for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The Canadian team will face many of the world’s top badminton nations including Malaysia, England, Singapore and the hosts from India.

 

“I’m especially excited to welcome our badminton athletes to the Canadian team going to Delhi,” said Martha Deacon, Canada’s Chef de Mission. “Over the past ten years, as a leader in badminton nationally and internationally, I have had the privilege of watching each one of these athletes develop into world-class players. I’m sure the Commonwealth Games will be pivotal to their success."

 

Kyle Hunter, Executive Director of Badminton Canada, added: “We are sending a top-notch team with a nice mix of both experience and youth. We know that players like Anna Rice and Jon Vandervet (Edmonton, AB) will provide great leadership to the younger players and as a group they’ll aim to perform at their highest level in both singles and doubles. On the women’s side, Badminton Canada would like to acknowledge the selflessness of veteran player and Olympian Milaine Cloutier for allowing her hard-earned spot on the team to be utilized by a younger deserving National Team athlete. It is this kind of sacrifice and camaraderie amongst our athletes that will bring our program to new levels of achievement.”

 

Athletes named by Badminton Canada to Team Canada for the 2010 Commonwealth Games were selected based on their ranking after several competitions across North America over the past six months. They include:

 

Anna Rice, 29, (Vancouver, BC), Women’s Singles, 2^nd Commonwealth Games, 2-time Olympian

Michelle Li, 18, (Toronto, ON), Women’s Singles & Women’s Doubles 1^st Commonwealth Games, silver medalist in Women’s Doubles at 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games

Alexandra Bruce, 20, (Toronto, ON), Women’s Doubles, 1^st Commonwealth Games, silver medalist in Women’s Doubles at 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games

Grace Gao, 20, (Calgary, AB), Mixed Doubles 1^st Commonwealth Games

Joycelyn Ko, 24, (Toronto, ON), Women’s Singles, 1^st Commonwealth Games

 

Alternate: Milaine Cloutier, 38, (Airdrie, AB), Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

 

David Snider, 22, (Winnipeg, MB), Men’s Singles, 1^st Commonwealth Games

Alexander Pang, 22, (Calgary, AB), Men’s Singles, 1^st Commonwealth Games

Alvin Lau, 25, (Vancouver, BC), Men’s Doubles, 1^st Commonwealth Games

Jon Vandervet, 28, (Edmonton, AB), Men’s Doubles, 1^st Commonwealth Games

Toby Ng, 24, (Calgary, AB), Mixed Doubles, 1^st Commonwealth Games

 

Alternate: Joseph Rogers, 21, (Ottawa, ON), Men’s Singles

 

Ram Nayyar (Vancouver, BC)

Jeff White (Calgary, AB)

 

Interviews with individual athletes and coaches can be arranged by contacting Kyle Hunter, Executive Director, Badminton Canada, Phone: (613) 569-2424 ext 101, Email: khunter@badminton.ca

 

The Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games will be the world’s largest multi-sport competition this year, drawing more than 4,000 athletes from 71 nations and territories. For more information on Team Canada, visit www.commonwealthgames.ca.

 

 

Badminton Canada is the National governing body for the sport of badminton in Canada with its head office in Ottawa, Ontario. Badminton Canada is a non-profit organization that holds status as a Canadian Amateur Athletic Association. Badminton Canada is empowered by its members to govern the sport of badminton in Canada and is committed to delivering value to its members.

 

 

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of Commonwealth Games Canada is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth, by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool.

 

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Derek Johnston

Commonwealth Games Canada Communications

(613) 837-3377

 

Kyle Hunter

Executive Director

Badminton Canada

(613) 569-2424 ext 101