Two of New Zealand’s junior badminton talents are heading to Japan to represent Aotearoa at the International Badminton U16 SHONAI Invitational 2025, held from 28–29 June in Tsuruoka, Yamagata.
Amy Wang (North Harbour) and Lucas Qin (Waikato), accompanied by coach Kenneth Yew (Waikato), will take on some of the world’s best U16 athletes across the men’s and women’s singles events. Countries represented at the event include badminton powerhouses such as China, Korea, Denmark, Malaysia, France, and more.
Hosted at the Tsurushin Arena, the event provides not only a competitive platform but also a unique cultural experience for the players, with opportunities to explore and connect with international peers through an organised post-event excursion.
This marks an incredible opportunity for Amy and Lucas to gain valuable match experience at an international level and continue developing as promising young athletes on the world stage.
🎌 Event Details:
- 🗓️ Competition Dates: 28–29 June 2025
- 📍 Venue: Tsurushin Arena Komagihara, Tsuruoka, Japan
- 🌐 More Info: international-badminton-u16.jp