2026 VICTOR Oceania Championships
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
