What a night at Badminton North Harbour. The semi-finals delivered tight scorelines, quality rallies, and strong performances across every event, with Kiwi players featuring prominently throughout the evening.

Mixed Doubles

The night began with a gripping mixed doubles clash between experienced veterans Adam Jeffrey / Laura Lin and the new pair Ricky Cheng / Natalie Ting.

Cheng / Ting came out sharp and fearless, taking the first game 21-17 and immediately putting pressure on the experienced Jeffrey / Lin pairing. The response from the veterans was just as strong — they regrouped quickly and dominated the second game 21-12 to force a decider.

The third game was pure drama and had everyone in the hall at the edge of their seat. Long rallies, brave net play, and relentless attacking from both sides had the home crowd fully invested. Jeffrey / Lin had match point first in the third game but with the stadium behind them, Cheng / Ting held their nerve in the closing moments to seal the match 23-21 on home court — a special moment for the North Harbour duo.

Final Score: Cheng / Ting def. Jeffrey / Lin | 21-17, 12-21, 23-21

Women’s Singles

An all-New Zealand semi-final saw Shaunna Li face Amy Wang in a highly anticipated rematch of their North Harbour International encounter late last season.

From the opening rally, both players showed intent. Wang came out aggressively, looking to dictate the pace and take the shuttle early. She built a 14-10 lead in the first game with sharp placement and confident attacking play. However, Li’s experience began to show as she absorbed the pressure, tightened her net control, and gradually shifted momentum. Staying composed in the longer rallies, Li strung together crucial points to close out the first game 21-15.

The second game followed a similar pattern. Wang once again found early momentum, pushing Li and testing her defensive consistency. But Li remained steady, keeping her unforced errors low and capitalising on key opportunities at the mid-game interval. With calm execution in the closing stages, Li secured the match 21-17 and booked her place in the final.

It was a strong display of composure from Li, while Wang showed once again why she is one of the rising players to watch.

Final Score: Li def. Wang | 21-15, 21-17

Women’s Doubles

Berry Ng / Amanda Ting ensured Kiwi representation in the women’s doubles final after a strong comeback performance against the Australian second seeds.

After dropping the first game 12-21, Ng / Ting lifted their intensity and tightened their defence. They edged a close second game 21-19 before maintaining control in the decider to win 21-18.

The result guarantees New Zealand a medal in the event and adds a special family storyline, with Amanda Ting joining her sister Natalie Ting in the finals across two disciplines.

Final Score: Ng / Ting def. AUS (2nd seeds) | 12-21, 21-19, 21-18

Men’s Doubles

The men’s doubles semi-final was definitely a match to watch.

In 2025, Adam Jeffrey and Dylan Soedjasa were crowned VICTOR Oceania Men’s Doubles Champions together. This year, however, both players entered the Championships with new partners.

Top seeds Adam Jeffrey / Raphael Deloy entered the semi-final as favourites. The pairing has built strong momentum over the past year and came in as the number one seeds with consistent performances backing them up.

Across the net stood Dylan Soedjasa / Chris Benzie — a fairly new combination, but both experienced campaigners in their own right. What unfolded was one of the matches of the tournament.

Jeffrey / Deloy began strongly, building an early lead in the first game (8-1) and showing why they were tipped to progress. However, Benzie / Soedjasa settled into the match and gradually found their rhythm. After clawing their way back into contention, they edged the opening game 21-19.

The second game remained close throughout. Jeffrey / Deloy continued to apply pressure, but Benzie / Soedjasa stayed composed in the key moments and once again closed the game 21-19 to secure their place in the final.

It was a disciplined performance from the scratch pairing against the tournament favourites.

Final Score: Benzie / Soedjasa def. Jeffrey / Deloy | 21-19, 21-19

Men’s Singles

The last Finals spot of the evening featured another all-Kiwi battle, with reigning champion Edward Lau taking on Ricky Cheng, who was fresh off his mixed doubles semi-final victory.

Lau started confidently, controlling the tempo from the outset. His sharp attacking play and precise placement allowed him to dictate rallies, taking the first game 21-12. At that stage, it appeared he was firmly on track for a straight-games win.

However, Cheng had other plans. Showing resilience and strong court awareness, he began extending rallies and forcing Lau into longer exchanges. The second game was much tighter, with both players matching each other point for point. Cheng maintained his composure in the closing stages, edging the game 21-19 to force a decider.

In the third game, Lau raised his intensity. With more assertive shot selection and disciplined movement, he quickly established a lead and did not allow Cheng back into the contest. Lau closed out the match 21-8, defending his place in the final and keeping his title ambitions alive.

Final Score: Lau def. Cheng | 21-12, 19-21, 21-8

The semi-finals showcased depth, grit, and the competitive spirit of Oceania badminton. With multiple Kiwi finalists across the disciplines, the stage is set for an exciting finals night.

We can’t wait to see how it all unfolds tomorrow.

Event: VICTOR Oceania Individual Championships
Dates: 8-12 February 2026
Time: 4 PM Start
Location: Badminton North Harbour
47 Bond Crescent, Forrest Hill, North Shore 0620, Auckland
Link: Full schedule and results
Stream: Court 1

Photos by: Badminton Oceania / Paul Foxall

Mixed Doubles

New Zealand opened the main draw with Edward Lau and Shaunna Li taking on Indonesia’s Maulana and Jamil, the eighth seeds and World No. 25.

The Indonesian pair showed their class to secure the match 21–9, 21–14, but it was a valuable opportunity for the Kiwi duo to compete at a world-class Super 500 level.

Men’s Doubles

Raphael Deloy and Adam Jeffrey faced former Olympians Choi Sol Gyu (Korea) and Goh V Shem (Malaysia). The Kiwis produced strong rallies but were outplayed 21–8, 21–13.

Dylan Soedjasa, partnering with Australia’s Steven Stallwood, also faced tough opposition in Chinese Taipei’s Su Ching Heng and Wu Guan Xu. It went point for poiThe Taipei pair, recent champions at the North Harbour International, were consistent and composed throughout, winning 21–17, 21–16 with a late push in both games.

Men’s Singles

One of the standout performances of the day came from Edward Lau in the men’s singles. Edward pushed Japan’s Shogo Ogawa through an intense three-game battle, producing the closest and most exciting match of the tournament for New Zealand so far.

After a strong start from the Japanese player, Edward responded brilliantly, taking the second game. The final scoreline was:

Shogo Ogawa (JPN) def. Edward Lau (NZL)

21–16, 16–21, 21–10

Edward impressed the crowd with his fighting spirit showing consistency throughout the long rallies.

Women’s Singles

Thirteen-year-old Amy Wang opened her Super 500 debut with a convincing win in qualification, securing her place in the main draw. She then faced Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching, who won 21–10, 21–11, but Amy displayed impressive maturity and competitive spirit for her age.

Shaunna Li faced a rare and valuable opportunity against reigning World Number One An Se Young of Korea. The Korean star demonstrated world-class precision to take the match 21–6, 21–6.

We are proud to see New Zealand represented on the world stage and look forward to watching our players continue to grow and rise as they develop for future competitions.

Photo Credit: BadmintonPhoto

Two different groups will travel across the globe, one to Saipan, Northern Marianas, and the other to Thailand, to compete in a series of international tournaments. These events offer valuable world ranking points, exposure to high-level competition, and a key opportunity for player development.

For many of these athletes, the opportunity to compete internationally marks an important step forward in their development. Whether building on recent momentum or gaining vital experience, stepping outside of New Zealand to face global competition is a valuable part of their growth as elite players.

Edward Lau and Shaunna Li will be a pair to watch at the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open, entering the tournament as top seeds in the Mixed Doubles event. Meanwhile, exciting new combinations are set to make their international debut in the Men's Doubles where 2025 Oceania Junior Champion - Raphael Deloy will partner up with 2025 Oceania Men's Doubles Champion - Adam Jeffrey. Both pairs have just clinched National Championship titles over the weekend and we look forward to see how they perform at Saipan.

In Thailand, a new mixed doubles combination will also debut at the Toyota Thailand International Series featuring Justine Villegas (North Harbour) who will partner with 2025 Oceania Men's Doubles Champion - Dylan Soedjasa. Justine Villegas will also be partnering Jenny Zhu in Women's Doubles for both Thailand tournaments.

Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2025
August 5–10 - Saipan, Northern Marianas

• Men's Singles: Edward Lau (North Harbour)
• Women's Singles: Shaunna Li (North Harbour)
• Mixed Doubles: Edward Lau and Shaunna Li (North Harbour)
• Men's Doubles: Raphael Deloy (Waikato) and Adam Jeffrey (Auckland)

Toyota Thailand International Series 2025
August 5–10 - Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

• Women's Singles: Jenny Zhu (North Harbour)
• Mixed Doubles: Dylan Soedjasa and Justine Villegas(North Harbour)
• Women's Doubles: Justine Villegas and Jenny Zhu (North Harbour)

Century Insurance Saipan International 2025
August 12-16 - Saipan, Northern Marianas

• Men's Singles: Edward Lau (North Harbour)
• Women's Singles: Shaunna Li (North Harbour)
• Mixed Doubles: Edward Lau and Shaunna Li (North Harbour)
• Men's Doubles: Raphael Deloy (Waikato) and Adam Jeffrey (Auckland)

Toyota Thailand International Challenge 2025
August 12–17 - Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

• Women's Singles: Jenny Zhu (North Harbour)
• Mixed Doubles: Dylan Soedjasa and Justine Villegas(North Harbour)
• Women's Doubles: Justine Villegas and Jenny Zhu (North Harbour)
• Men's Doubles: Dylan Soedjasa (North Harbour) and Andika Ramadiansyah (Australia)

These international appearances reinforce the importance of giving our players exposure to different playing styles, high-pressure environments, and world-class opponents. We’re excited to see how each of them rises to the challenge and proud to support them as they represent New Zealand overseas.

Stay tuned to Badminton New Zealand's social pages for exclusive updates with the team.

As part of the build-up, we asked the players what they’re most looking forward to and their responses.

Here’s a sneak peek at what they had to say:

“To play well and have fun”
“Playing with or against people I haven't met before, and learning how they play”
“I want to gain more experience and learn how I could get better”

Want to know which players shared these thoughts?
👉 Head to our Facebook and Instagram pages to see their profiles and full quotes!

We can’t wait to follow their journey as they represent Aotearoa on the international stage. Stay tuned for more updates and behind-the-scenes moments from Melbourne!

The team will travel to Melbourne, Australia in May to be part of the U15 Australian International experience which will consist of team building, training sessions and tournament match plays!

We are excited to see this opportunity for New Zealand's Juniors and look forward to see how the juniors will make the most of it in Australia.

New Zealand U15 Australian Experience Team

Representing New Zealand on the world stage is a remarkable achievement, and this day was a celebration of the hard work and dedication, not only from these young athletes but also from their supporters who have put in an immense amount of work to reach this level.

A special thank you goes to Yonex Badminton Australia / New Zealand for providing the official World Junior squad shirts. Their continued support is invaluable to the development of our junior athletes.

Following the presentation, the squad underwent two days of education, team-building activities and intense training. The weekend wrapped up with a sparring session against the National Development Squad, culminating in a relay simulation - mirroring the team format they compete with at the World Junior Championships in Nanchang, China.

"The BWF World Junior Championships is held annually and consists of two separate competitions: a mixed team championships for the Suhandinata Cup followed by an individual championships for the Eye Level Cups – all hosted over 12 days and attracting up to 50 teams and 400 players from around the world.

The Championships provides badminton fans with a first glimpse of the stars of the future. The World Junior Championship is the first opportunity for talented young badminton players to represent their country in a world event in the sport.

It is also an opportunity to experience top level competition and perhaps put them on the pathway towards becoming one of the stars of the future." - BWF

Stay tuned for more updates on how the World Junior Championship format has changed as we follow the journey of these young athletes at the World Junior Championships!

Meet the Team

Boys:

• Raphael Deloy, Waikato Badminton Association
• Alex Galt, Badminton North Harbour
• Jaden Mingoa, Badminton North Harbour
• Jay Xuan Tan, Badminton Canterbury
• Lezhi Zhu, Badminton Hawkes Bay

Girls:

• Yanxi Liu, Badminton North Harbour
• Mia Xu, Auckland Badminton Association
• Olivia Yang, Waitakere Badminton Association
• Josephine Zhao, Badminton North Harbour

Experienced Competitors

Four members of the team—Raphael Deloy, Jaden Mingoa, Josephine Zhao, and Lezhi Zhu—are making their second appearance at the World Junior Championships, building from their previous experience on the international platform.

Tournament Schedule and Group Placement

The World Juniors Championships will kick off with the team event on 30 September 2024 to 5 October 2024. New Zealand has been placed in Group D, where they will face the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Cook Islands.

After the team event, the players will turn their focus to the Yonex World Junior Championships - Individual Event on 7 to 13 October 2024.

Preparation and Support

In preparation for the championships, the New Zealand Junior squad will be training in Auckland under the guidance of the head national coach. The team will be participating in a range of activities, including team-building exercises, intense training sessions, and organized match simulations over the weekend. These practice matches will take place against senior players, providing the squad with valuable experience and sharpening their skills before they head off to China. This focused preparation is designed to enhance both their individual performance and team cohesion as they gear up for the world stage.

Stay tuned for more updates and follow the journey of our New Zealand World Junior team as they take on the world in Nanchang, China.

Good luck to the team as they represent New Zealand!

The Kiwis had a practice session at the main hall at the Quaycentre Sydney Olympic Park - “The stadium is huge, so there’s a different feel to how rallies play out. It’s not often we get a chance to compete at a Super 500, so I’m looking forward to being on court and taking in the experience.” - Dylan Soedjasa.

First to compete in the Australian Open will be Edward Lau in the Men's Singles Qualification against Australia’s Ken Richardson. Edward shared, “We got to train at the main hall yesterday to adjust to the stadium and the shuttles, and I’m feeling good going into this match. I’m excited to be playing in my first Super 500 tournament.”

Edward Lau is coming in as a strong contender to represent New Zealand, having a phenomenal result from the 2024 Oceania Championships in the Men's Singles, we look forward to see what how he performs throughout the tournament.

Later in the afternoon, Rizky and Putra, the reigning Australian National Champions, will face off against New Zealand's top doubles pair, Dylan Soedjasa and Adam Jeffrey. This promises to be an exciting match! Adam noted, “Playing in the main hall yesterday was good, but I’m not used to playing with a drift, so that’s something I need to think about.” Dylan added, “It's always challenging to play new opponents as we will have to make quick adjustments during the match.”

Mixed Doubles matches will be played on Wednesday. Stay tuned and follow the results here.

The SATHIO Group Australian Badminton Open - Super 500, a star-studded event featuring top players like Jonatan Cristie (Indonesia), FENG Yan Zhe and HUANG Dong Ping (China) plus many more, will see New Zealand represented in Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events.

Leading the charge in Men’s Singles is the current Oceania Men's Singles Champion, Edward Lau. This marks Edward’s debut in a Super 500 tournament, presenting a fantastic opportunity for him to gain experience and compete against higher-ranked players.

Edward will be teaming up with Gronya Somerville, the 2024 Oceania Mixed Doubles Champion from Australia, for their debut in the mixed doubles event. The two recently faced off against each other with their respective partners (Shaunna Li - NZL and Kenneth Choo - AUS) at the 2024 Oceania Individual Championships in Geelong, where Lau and Li closely missed out in a 3 game match for the Oceania Mixed Championship title. “I don’t really have any expectations; we’re probably the underdogs since we’re a scratch pairing. I’m looking forward to challenging others and hopefully beating them,” says Edward.

When asked about potential challenges, Edward notes, “I think there will be times where we get confused on court since we’re not used to playing together. However, if this happens, I believe we’ll be able to scramble and cover for each other.”

Joining the mixed doubles to represent New Zealand are Adam Jeffrey and Justine Villegas. Justine shares, “It’s really exciting to get the opportunity to play against the world's best especially in Australia. Our last international tournament was in May last year, and our partnership was less than a year old back then. This level of competition is a huge jump from International Challenges to the Super 500, but it’s definitely something we can learn from.”

Jeffrey adds, “Like Justine said, I’m excited! It’ll be fun, and I want to see the gap between us and these top players. I feel like I haven’t earned my spot to play in it, but this opportunity showed up and we’re definitely very fortunate to compete in a Super 500.”

In addition to Mixed Doubles, Adam will represent New Zealand in Men’s Doubles with Dylan Soedjasa - 2024 Oceania Men's Doubles Runner-Up. “I love these big tournaments because we get the chance to play against different styles of badminton. With New Zealand being quite a small country, we often play the same people, so it’s great to face new opponents.”

The Australian Open Super 500 will take place from 11-14 June 2024 in Sydney. The draw will be released on 4 June 2024. Stay tuned to see who the Kiwis will be up against!

Participating in three tournaments, the pair not only reached the finals each time but have emerged victorious for two out of the three. An exceptional accomplishment, showcasing their talent and determination.

Reflecting on their experiences, Markis shares insights gained from facing stronger opponents.
"Even against tough competition, particularly the tournament's top seeds, we approached the games with the mindset of giving our best without the expectation of winning. This approach, coupled with reduced pressure, allowed us to elevate our performance and secure victories." Markis Tew - North Harbour.

Looking ahead, Markis expresses his intention to maintain a relaxed mindset in future matches, recognising its positive impact on his gameplay.

Beyond competitions, their stint in Malaysia includes intensive training at the Rommy Badminton Club, contributing to their development.

Raphael Deloy highlights "the part I enjoy the most about this trip is all the friends I have made and how they make all the training sessions more enjoyable". Inspired by their training abroad, Raphael is keen to bring back the intensity of drills and fast-paced movements to elevate the training regime in New Zealand.

As the boys kick-start the year on a high note, Raphael is gearing up for the Oceania Individual and Team Championships in February, setting a promising tone for the upcoming tournaments.

Congratulations to both Raphael and Markis! We are excited and thrilled to see what they have in store for the rest of the year!