Tag: Events

Recap of the YONEX All England Junior Badminton Championships
Local hopes Sofie Chong and Lucy Dodd emerged victorious at the 2024 YONEX All England Junior Badminton Championships.
Over four days at the University of Birmingham, some of the world’s top under-19 badminton players competed in the junior division of the world’s oldest badminton championship.

In the girls’ doubles event, England’s Chong and Dodd defeated the top seeds, Misha Omer Khan and Tabia Khan of the UAE, in the deciding set.
After a bye in the first round, Chong and Dodd overcame fellow British pair Ayushi Dularia and Georgiana Kintels with scores of 21-11 21-7.
They then faced the second seeds, Scotland’s Ishbel MacAllister and Brooke Stock, winning in straight sets and meeting another top-seeded team.

In a three-set battle, they defeated the third seeds, Wales’ Saffron Morris and England’s Carly Stevenson, with scores of 21-14 15-21 21-19 to reach the final.
In the final, Chong and Dodd showcased their courage, holding off Khan and Khan’s counterattacks, winning the first set, only for the UAE pair to fight back and force a decider.
In the final set, Chong and Dodd remained composed, securing the victory with scores of 22-20 15-21 21-16 to win the girls’ doubles title.
Misha Omer Khan also won the girls’ singles title on Sunday, being one of the two players to reach both finals in Birmingham.

The third seed defeated America’s Suneli Chintalapati in the final with scores of 21-19 21-8, ensuring she left England with both a gold and a silver medal.
The UAE team also claimed two podium spots, with Bharat Rati and Tabia Khan, as top seeds, winning the mixed doubles title.
This pair lost only one set on their way to the top podium, defeating Danish pair Aske Romer and Jasmine Willis with scores of 21-16 14-21 21-13 in the semifinals.
In the final against the eighth-seeded combination of England’s James Song and Poland’s Kaya Ciorcikowska, Rati and Khan dominated, winning with scores of 21-14 21-7.
England’s Dillon Chong, who lost in last year’s mixed doubles final, reached the men’s doubles semifinals this year but lost with Swiss partner Zhi Lun Ong.

They were defeated 21-15 21-18 by Danish pair Aske Romer and Salomon Adam Thomsen, who eventually finished as runners-up after losing to the American duo Arden Guan and Stanley Xing with scores of 11-21 21-16 21-15.
Second seed Tiago Berenguer of Portugal staged a comeback in the men’s singles final to defeat India’s Sugi Sai Bala Singha Gopinath Singh, claiming the title.
After losing the first set, Berenguer made a strong recovery to force a decider, eventually winning with scores of 11-21 21-14 21-5.

Berenguer entered the final undefeated and withstood the challenge to emerge as the champion.

August 13, 2024
Exciting First Day of the All-Africa U19 Championships in Thiès, Senegal

The All-Africa U19 Junior Badminton Championships are currently underway in Thiès, Senegal, bringing together some of the most talented young badminton players from across the African continent. This team event, scheduled from August 12th to 14th, features two groups of four teams each, competing for the championship title. Group A comprises Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Burundi, while Group B includes Mauritius, South Africa, Senegal, and Benin.
The day’s matches kicked off in the morning at the Stade Lat Dior in Thiès, with a dominant performance by Algeria against Tunisia on Court 1. Algeria swept the tie 5-0, starting with a decisive win in the mixed doubles as Ryane Mazri and Ines Madi defeated Tunisia’s Abderrahmen Trabelsi and Narim Jebali 21-7, 21-13. In the men’s singles, Oussama Keddou continued Algeria’s winning streak with a 21-6, 21-13 victory over Oubeid Errahmen Kasraoui. The women’s singles match saw Amira Bouhrira defeat Elaa Khedhiri 21-13, 21-12. Algeria maintained their dominance in the men’s doubles, with Daoud Aimen and Yacine Laichi overcoming Ahmed Chityoui and Oubeid Errahmen Kasraoui. The final match, women’s doubles, saw Manel Hamza and Delhomme Riham defeat Narim Jebali and Elaa Khedhiri. Reflecting on the victory, Oussama Keddou expressed his satisfaction: “We are thrilled to have won our first match and earned our first point. We aim to maintain this momentum throughout the tournament.”

The next match in Group A saw Egypt take on Burundi, with Egypt emerging victorious with a 5-0 win. The mixed doubles match started the tie, with Mahmoud Mohamed Mahmoud and Fatema Rabie defeating Prince Irakoze and Keren Igiraneza. Egypt continued their winning ways in the men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, and finally, the women’s doubles, where Elgendy Hadia and Lojaine Wasfy defeated Keren Igiraneza and Berthila Niyomwungere 21-5, 21-2. Reem Hussein, Egypt’s women’s singles player, commented, “This first win is crucial as it gives us the first point in the group stage. We know the competition is tough, and we must secure all victories to achieve our goals.”

On Court 3, Group B featured a clash between Mauritius and Benin. Mauritius dominated this match, starting with a mixed doubles win, where Aidan Yu Kiat Siow Yin Young and Chiara How Hong defeated Lewis Kpanou and Blessing Atchade 21-6, 21-2. Agnivesh Ragoonundun won the men’s singles 21-12, 21-7 against Jeredy Steve Bassa. Layna Luxmi Chiniah clinched the women’s singles title with a 21-3, 21-9 victory over Anna Gladys Akakpo. Mauritius further secured their win in the men’s doubles, with Nyanesh Anand Changea and Tejas Savoo defeating Jeredy Steve Bassa and Lewis Kpanou 21-17, 21-14. The final match, women’s doubles, saw Elsa How Hong and Mia Mi Lin Siow Yin Young defeat Anna Gladys and Blessing Atchade 21-9, 21-7.

The next Group B match saw South Africa facing Senegal, with South Africa claiming a 5-0 victory. The tie began with men’s singles, where Miguel Vegario defeated Demba Ndiaye 21-7, 21-15. Lee Iman won the women’s singles by defeating Aissatou Faye 21-10, 21-4. In the men’s doubles, Tomosi Gabriels and Laurence Schafer defeated Demba Ndiaye and Lamine Traore 21-13, 21-10. Chloe Rai and Lee Iman continued South Africa’s dominance in the women’s doubles, defeating Khady Dukuray and Aissatou Ly 21-6, 21-9. The final match, mixed doubles, saw Miguel Vegario and Hadia Karim defeat Ali Amadou Kane and Aissatou Faye 21-4, 21-7.
The afternoon session began at 3 PM local time, with four more matches across the two groups.
In Group A, Egypt extended their winning streak with a 5-0 victory over Tunisia, demonstrating their determination as the top seed in this tournament. Similarly, Algeria maintained their dominance with a 5-0 win over Burundi, further consolidating their position in the group.

In Group B, Mauritius secured a 5-0 victory against the host team Senegal, displaying outstanding performance in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. In the final match of the day, South Africa continued their flawless performance with a 5-0 win over Benin, solidifying their position as one of the contenders for the championship.
As the day’s matches concluded, the focus now shifts to tomorrow’s final group stage matches, which are crucial for determining the group standings and setting the stage for the knockout rounds. With the competition intensifying, all teams are eager to solidify their positions and continue their journey toward championship glory.
August 13, 2024
Smt. Krishna Khaitan Memorial Tournament to Commence on September 12
The 31st Smt. Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Badminton Prize Money Tournament will take place from September 12th to 19th at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector 3, Panchkula.
Sponsored by the Haryana Badminton Association and organized by the Express Shuttle Club Trust, this tournament is one of the junior ranking tournaments on the Badminton Association of India’s (BAI) calendar this year.
“We are expecting over 1,100 players to participate in the 31st Smt. Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Badminton Prize Money Tournament this year. It will provide significant ranking points for players under 19, and some of the top junior players in the domestic circuit are expected to compete in this year’s tournament,” said the Tournament Director, Sanjiv Sachdeva.

Last year, the tournament received over 1,150 entries. This year’s event will feature players under 19 competing in the categories of boys’ singles, girls’ singles, boys’ doubles, girls’ doubles, and mixed doubles. The total prize money for the tournament is INR 400,000, with cash awards also being given to the quarterfinalists in the boys’ and girls’ singles events.
Players born on or after January 1, 2006, are eligible to participate, and the deadline for entries is August 21. The qualifying rounds will take place from September 12th to 15th, followed by the main tournament from September 16th to 19th.
“This tournament will be conducted under the auspices of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), with BAI-approved referees and officials present during the matches. Players participating in doubles from different states must carry a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their respective state associations. As per BAI regulations, players must strictly adhere to the age guidelines. The first main draw and qualifying lists will be published on August 28, and players can contact their state units in case of any omissions,” said Sachdeva, a former head coach of the Indian junior team and a member of the BAI selection committee.
Last year, Haryana’s young player Anmol Kalub claimed the girls’ under-19 title by defeating Tanvi Sharma from Punjab in the final. Telangana’s Pranav Ram won the boys’ under-19 title after Mizoram’s Laltazuala retired midway through the final.
2012 London Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal won the girls’ singles title at this tournament in 2005, while two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu claimed the title in 2010.
August 13, 2024
The European Senior Championships Are Approaching!

The 2024 European Senior Championships are just around the corner. This will be the first time the championships are held in the brand-new De Velodroom complex in Heusden-Zolder, and it is already set to be a spectacular event.
This year’s tournament will feature 1,569 players from 31 countries, competing across 16 courts, with an average of 390 matches taking place each day. The event will include participants aged 35 and above, extending to those over 80, making it the largest tournament of its kind, second only to the World Senior Championships.
The city of Heusden-Zolder, the event organizers BC Smash, Badminton Europe, and the KBBF are preparing to warmly welcome the many players to the Velodrome Sport Vlaanderen.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, August 25th to Saturday, August 31st
Venue: Velodrome Sport Vlaanderen, Heusden-Zolder
Admission: Free Entry
August 13, 2024
August 13, 2024: Lack of Leading Figures Among Chinese Mens Badminton Players
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Chinese badminton team concluded their campaign with a total of 2 gold medals and 3 silver medals.
Before the Games began, the Chinese badminton team aimed to win all five gold medals in men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, with world number one players or pairs in each event. Three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, the mixed doubles pair Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong lost to teammates Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping in the final, narrowly missing out on gold. This time, the “Yas” pair made thorough preparations and made a comeback, winning all six matches to secure the championship, completing a crucial piece of their career puzzle.

The women’s doubles final was an “internal” match between Chinese pairs. Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan eventually defeated their younger teammates Tan Ning/Liu Shengshu, compensating for their loss in the Tokyo Olympics final.
The men’s doubles competition was the most intense. Teams from China, Malaysia, India, and other countries had closely matched strengths, with victory largely depending on pre-match preparation and performance. Chinese pair Liu Yuchen/Ou Xuanyi failed to advance past the group stage, and although the world number one pair Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang reached the final, they ultimately fell short and had to settle for silver.
The performance of Chinese men’s singles players was unexpected. World number one Shi Yuki was in excellent form before the Olympics, having won several championships. However, in the men’s singles quarter-finals, Shi Yuki suffered a significant defeat to Thailand’s Kunlavut. Li Shifeng, the Hangzhou Asian Games champion, also underperformed and was eliminated in the Round of 16. This is the first time since the 2004 Athens Olympics that Chinese men’s singles has not reached the Olympic semi-finals.
The women’s singles performed better than the men’s. Chen Yufei and He Bingjiao both advanced from the group stage, meeting in the quarter-finals, where Chen Yufei lost to He Bingjiao, thus missing the chance for a repeat championship. In the women’s singles final, He Bingjiao faced world number one An Seyoung and was defeated due to a clear disparity in strength.
China’s badminton team has won the most Olympic gold medals in the history of the sport. At the 2012 London Olympics, the team achieved a clean sweep of all five gold medals. In the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, they secured two gold medals each. This time in Paris, their achievements are comparable to the previous two editions.
Over the past decade, badminton has rapidly developed worldwide, altering the competitive landscape. Teams from South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Denmark, and other countries have emerged with numerous talented players, diminishing China’s absolute dominance in any event. Especially in men’s events, China has been lacking a leading figure. Wang Chang commented in an interview with our reporter, “Competitive sports are always full of uncertainties. However, every Chinese athlete will strive for victory when they step onto the Olympic stage.”
August 13, 2024
2025 VICTOR Oceania Championships to be Hosted by Two Cities
The Oceania Badminton Confederation is delighted to announce the host countries for the 2025 VICTOR Oceania Championships.
The VICTOR Oceania Championships (Open) will be held from February 10 to 16, 2025, at the North Harbour Badminton Centre in Auckland, New Zealand. The VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships will take place from June 8 to 14, 2025, hosted by the Northern Mariana Islands Badminton Association.
This will mark the fourth time North Harbour has been announced as the host venue for these championships. The previous three editions were either canceled due to COVID-19 or, as in 2023, had to find a new venue at the last minute due to catastrophic flooding that destroyed the North Harbour facilities. The positive outcome of these challenges is that the venue will undergo a comprehensive internal upgrade, which will be completed in time for the MAXX North Harbour International Championships in October 2024.
The Oceania Championships will feature the Mixed Team Championships (the 10th to 12th editions), serving as a qualifier for the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals to be held in China in May 2025, followed by individual championships. In addition to the Mixed Team Championships, the 15 and Under Pacific Team Challenge will also be held for the third time, continuing to be a crucial component of our Pacific Player Development Program.

Glenn Cox, CEO of North Harbour Badminton Club, reflected on the significance of hosting the Oceania Championships: “We are thrilled to once again host the Oceania Championships. 2025 will be a special year for us as we host the event in our upgraded facilities, which we believe will provide a top-quality experience for all involved—players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators alike. We extend an invitation to the Oceania community to join us, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to North Harbour Badminton Club in February 2025.”
The Northern Mariana Islands Badminton Association will host the VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships, marking a first for the region. Prior to this, the Association successfully hosted the 2022 Pacific Mini Games and a BWF Level 3 International Challenge. NMBA President Merlie Tolentino stated: “We are excited to welcome everyone to the Northern Mariana Islands for the 2025 VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships. Hosting this event is a tremendous honor, and we eagerly anticipate showcasing the exceptional talents and sportsmanship of the participants. We are committed to making this event a memorable success and look forward to seeing many of you in Saipan next
Following the Oceania Championships, NMBA will host a BWF Level 3 International Series event, offering local senior players an opportunity to compete internationally. Two BWF Level 3 International Challenge events will be he
Julie Cairel, Secretary-General of the Oceania Badminton Confederation, remarked: “We are very pleased to announce these two hosts, who will provide high-quality competition experiences for players. Returning to North Harbour after the flood damage two years ago is highly significant and reflects Glenn and his team’s steadfast commitment to hosting international eve
Our goal was to bring the Junior Championships to one of the Pacific nations, so when Merlie asked us ‘What else can NMBA host?’ it was a perfect opportunity. This is the first time we have separated the Oceania Open and Junior Championships, which will allow some junior players to participate in the Open in February and earn valuable world ranking points. The generous support provided by NMBA, combined with our Player Development Program, ensures that every player heading to Saipan will have an unforgettable experience. The introduction of team relay events will add to the overall
August 9, 2024