New Zealand’s men delivered a spirited performance in the final of the 2026 VICTOR Oceania Men’s Team Championships in Auckland, ultimately falling 4–1 to defending champions Australia.
After both teams progressed through the group stage undefeated, the final promised to be a tightly contested battle — and it did not disappoint.
Edward Lau Sets the Tone
Edward Lau stepped onto court first and immediately set the scene by putting the first point on the board for New Zealand. After a shaky start, Edward settled into the match and showed composure under pressure, defeating Jack Yu in three games, 16–21, 21–18, 21–18.
The early lead gave New Zealand strong momentum heading into the doubles.
Deloy / Jeffrey Deliver a Nail-Biter
Raphael Deloy and Adam Jeffrey produced one of the most dramatic matches of the night. Facing Andika Ramadiansyah and Frederick Zhao, the Kiwi pair found themselves trailing late in the third game before mounting a stunning comeback, winning six consecutive points to level the score at 18-all.
From there, it was neck-and-neck. Eventually, Australia edged ahead 23–21 to level the tie at 1–1.
Gruelling Singles Battle
Chris Benzie then took to court in what became a physically demanding singles encounter. Both players pushed their limits in a high-intensity battle, with long rallies and relentless pressure from both sides. It was a strong effort from Benzie, but Australia managed to gain the upper hand to take a 2–1 lead.
Doubles Rematch Seals the Tie
With the score at 2–1, Dylan Soedjasa returned to court for a crucial men’s doubles clash — a rematch of sorts from his individual finals campaign — this time partnering Vincent Tao. The Kiwi pair fought hard in an attempt to level the tie, but Australia’s combination proved strong, closing the match 21–18, 21–17 and securing the decisive third point.
Cheng Fights Until the End
Although the tie was sealed, Ricky Cheng continued to show tremendous fighting spirit in the final match against Oceania champion Shrey Dhand. Cheng pushed hard and kept the pressure on, but Dhand eventually closed the contest 23–21, 21–17 to complete the 4–1 result.
While the outcome did not fall New Zealand’s way, the men demonstrated resilience and fight throughout the campaign.
Badminton New Zealand is incredibly proud of the Thomas Cup team and the way they represented the country on home soil.