Verdet Emily Caci Kessler (born 24 May 1994) is an Australian badminton player.[1] Kessler was the women's singles national champion in 2013 and 2014, and also won the women's singles title at the Oceania Championships in 2014.

Verdet Kessler
Personal information
Birth nameVerdet Emily Caci Kessler
CountryAustralia
Born (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 (age 30)
Adelaide, Australia
Women's
Highest ranking102 (WS) 4 December 2014
106 (WD) 23 October 2014
375 (XD) 5 April 2012
Medal record
Badminton
Representing  Australia
Oceania Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Ballarat Women's singles
Oceania Mixed Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Ballarat Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2012 Ballarat Mixed team
Oceania Women's Team Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Ballarat Women's team
Oceania Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2011 Suva Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Suva Girls' doubles
BWF profile

Early life and career

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Kessler is the daughter of a Bermudian ballet dancer (Verniece Benjamin) and German handballer (Detlef Kessler).[2] She began playing badminton at the age of seven after trying it at a holiday clinic, taking up weekly training at the age of twelve and joining her first junior state team a year later. Her home club is the Glenelg Badminton Club.[2][3]

Career

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In 2009, Kessler won the girls' doubles event at the U-19 Australian Junior International tournament partnered with Leanne Choo. She was also selected to join the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games squad.[4] In 2011, she won the silver and bronze medal at the Oceania Junior Championships in the mixed team and girls' doubles respectively. In 2012, she represented her country at the World Junior Championships in Japan.[5] In 2014, she won the women's singles title at the Oceania Championships after beat Michelle Chan of New Zealand.[6] At the same year, she competed at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.[7] Also in 2014, at the Ede Clendinnen Shield event, she was awarded the Cliff Cutt Trophy for exhibiting the "highest standards of sportsmanship, personality, court demeanour, playing ability and appearance throughout the tournament".[3]

Achievements

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Oceania Championships

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Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2014 Ken Kay Badminton Stadium, Ballarat, Australia   Michelle Chan 21–23, 21–14, 21–14   Gold
2012 Ken Kay Badminton Stadium, Ballarat, Australia   Michelle Chan 10–21, 17–21   Silver

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2012 Ken Kay Badminton Hall,
Ballarat, Australia
  Talia Saunders   Ann-Louise Slee
  Eugenia Tanaka
11–21, 21–23   Bronze

Oceania Junior Championships

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Girls' doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2011 Yat Sen School,
Suva, Fiji
  Tara Pilven   Victoria Cheng
  Mary O'Connor
13–21, 21–18, 15–21   Bronze

References

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  1. ^ "Players: Verdet Kessler". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b Turner, Matt (3 June 2014). "Genetics factor in badminton star Verdet Kessler's rise to the top". The Advertiser. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b "The Plastic Shuttle March 2015" (PDF). Glenelg Badminton Club. p. 8. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Player Profile: Verdet Kessler" (PDF). Badminton South Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Australian Team Announced for World Junior Championships". Badminton Australia. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  6. ^ "2014 Oceania Championships: Tho, Kessler Win Singles Titles". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Australia reveals Glasgow 2014 badminton team". insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
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