New Zealand’s Raphael Deloy and Lezhi Zhu have been named the Men's Doubles Champion at the 2025 VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships, capping off a strong tournament campaign with a confident performance in the final.
After days of competition in Saipan, the pair stood tall on finals day, showcasing composure, chemistry, and strategic play on court to secure the gold medal for New Zealand.
Reflecting on the win, Raphael Deloy shared his excitement:
“It feels amazing to win the Oceania Junior Championship. I’ve prepared since the start of this year to be able to achieve a really good outcome out of this tournament. So I’m really happy.”
His partner, Lezhi Zhu, spoke about the mindset that carried him through the pressure moments of the final:
“I think throughout the match I just told myself ‘composure’ over and over again – and it worked out.”
This victory is a sign that the future is bright for New Zealand badminton, with rising stars like Raphael and Lezhi leading the way. We’re thrilled to celebrate this incredible win with the pair and can’t wait to see how they perform next at the Northern Marianas International Series, where they’ll take on the challenge of competing in an Open International tournament.
The journey continues - and we’re cheering every step of the way.