Badminton New Zealand congratulates Amy Wang and Tony Yu on their performances at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where both athletes proudly represented New Zealand on one of sport's biggest international stages.
Amy Wang delivered an outstanding campaign in the women's singles competition, advancing through the group stage with an unbeaten record. She opened her tournament with a straight-games victory over Estonia's Romili Vakk (21-17, 21-10), before overcoming Ireland's Hannah Shochan in a hard-fought contest (24-22, 21-16). She then secured top spot in her pool with a three-game win over Bulgaria's Elena Popivanova (21-13, 18-21, 21-15).
Her impressive run earned a place in the quarter-finals, where she faced Japan's Yuzuno Watanabe. Despite falling to a strong opponent in straight games, Amy's achievement of reaching the last eight was a fantastic result and a reflection of her talent, determination and future potential on the international stage.
In the men's singles, Tony Yu faced a challenging group featuring athletes from France, Bulgaria and Serbia. While he was unable to progress beyond the group stage, Tony competed with resilience throughout the tournament and gained invaluable experience against high-quality international opposition.
While Amy and Tony took to the court, the campaign was very much a team effort. Kenneth Yew provided on-the-ground support throughout the Games, helping prepare the athletes for competition and ensuring they were able to make the most of this unique international experience.
Representing New Zealand at a Youth Olympic Games is a significant achievement, and Badminton New Zealand extends its sincere congratulations to Amy, Tony and Kenneth on their incredible efforts in Dakar - and thanks everyone who has supported their journey. They have done themselves, their families, coaches and the wider badminton community proud – and their experience gained at this level will undoubtedly support their continued development in the years ahead.
Images courtesy New Zealand Olympic Committee