Malaysia's Wong Mew Choo, aiming for Games gold.
The newly approved Badminton venue at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre has received high praise from the Australian Badminton head coach, Claus Poulsen.
“We have been in the main venue for about a month, just to check out the airflow and get an idea of how it will be," Poulsen said. "I think it will be very good.
“One of the things I am quite happy about is the airflow. Often in Badminton it can be about a metre for the shot to move to the side and it is quite difficult for the players to adjust to that.”
The Australian coach said the still conditions, while making it easier for players across the board, would certainly work in favour of the Australian team.
“It seems like when you are here it is much more relaxed and there is not much wind. I think that is a big advantage for us."
Competitors will be able to train at the venue from Monday 13 March.
The four-group draw for Badminton preliminaries has Australia will meeting Jamaica, Kenya, Uganda and New Zealand, while top seeds Malaysia are anticipating a finals meeting with England.
In the men’s competition Doubles, Koo Kien Keat hopes to be the first – and youngest – Malaysian shuttler to win three medals at the Commonwealth Games.
At 21, Kien Keat is the 'baby' in the men’s squad gearing up for the Games.
Fellow Badminton team-mate Wong Mew Choo is looking to become the first Malaysian women’s singles champion in Games history. She has been improving over the last two years and there are now high hopes that the world number 11 can end her country's 28-year wait for gold in the women's Singles.
Malaysian chief coach Yap Kim Hock is confident of success across the board.
“We have never won the mixed team gold medal and, looking at this draw, I believe we have a very good chance to take it this time. A place in the final is in our favour. I hope the players will fight to go one step further.”
To find out more about the Badminton competition at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, visit the Badminton section of this Website.
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