Kiwis Storm into Quarterfinals at Northern Marianas International Series
It was a standout Day 3 for Team New Zealand at the Northern Marianas International Series, with multiple players advancing into the quarterfinals across several categories.
Mixed Doubles
New Zealand’s mixed doubles pair Raphael Deloy and Yanxi Liu delivered a convincing performance against Australia’s Phillip Halim and Faye Huo, cruising to a 21-14, 21-13 victory to secure their quarterfinals spot.
Joining them in the quarterfinals are fellow Kiwis Eric Lu and Josephine Zhao, who defeated Guam’s Allan Zeng and Kristine Deng with 21-6 and 21-8.
Men’s Doubles
Fresh off their gold at the 2025 VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships, Raphael Deloy and Lezhi Zhu continued their winning streak, moving into the quarterfinals after another solid performance.
Women’s Doubles
Back in action, Yanxi Liu and Josephine Zhao teamed up for the women’s doubles and defeated Cook Islands’ Arihoia Sprague-Marsters and Lana Toa 21-10, 21-5. This win marks their second event quarterfinals appearance this week.
New Zealand juniors continue to deliver strong performances across multiple events, and we look forward to watching their growth on the international stage.
What’s Next?
Quarterfinal matches begin tomorrow morning, followed by the semifinals in the afternoon at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym in Saipan. With strong Kiwi representation in the draw, New Zealand will have plenty to support at the tournament.