By James Sablan
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
GRADE 3 international badminton action is set to return to Saipan this July.
Following joint confirmations from Badminton Oceania and the Northern Marianas Badminton Association, a lineup of consecutive tournaments will proceed as scheduled, marking a milestone for regional sports and the island’s ongoing recovery efforts.
The action begins with the YONEX Northern Marianas Open 2026 on July 14–19, followed by the Crowne Plaza Saipan International 2026 on July 21–25. The Crowne Plaza Oceania Masters in Paradise 2026 will close the series from July 29 to Aug. 4.
The confirmation of the tournaments comes as a testament to the resilience of the CNMI following Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which caused severe damage to residential areas and several sports venues and infrastructure.
Key competition venues are now being steadily restored to full readiness.
Elite players from around the world are expected to return, with entries already confirmed from badminton powerhouses including Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Malta, Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, among others.
With more than 10 countries confirmed and others finalizing entries, the Grade 3 events will offer valuable BWF World Ranking points. Players are expected to take advantage of the back-to-back format to build momentum for the second half of the season.
CNMI players interested in competing on home soil can still access official entry forms. For inquiries, players may contact NMBA coordinators Janelle Pangilinan at (670) 783-2813 or Christy Villaflor at (670) 789-9192.
Anticipation is high following last year’s tournaments, which featured strong performances from international players.
The 2025 Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open saw Japan dominate across all five divisions:
Men’s Singles: Yudai Okimoto
Women’s Singles: Sakura Masuki
Men’s Doubles: Kakeru Kumagai / Hiroki Nishi
Women’s Doubles: Ririna Hiramoto / Kokona Ishikawa
Mixed Doubles: Akira Koga / Yuho Imai
At the 2025 Saipan International, competition intensified with multiple nations sharing the podium. India’s Tanya Hemanth defeated Japan’s Kanae Sakai to win women’s singles, while Japan’s Riki Takei edged compatriot Yudai Okimoto for the men’s singles title. Japan also claimed the men’s doubles and women’s doubles titles, while South Korea secured gold in mixed doubles.
With several returning champions expected to defend their titles or seek redemption, July’s tournaments are expected to deliver another high-level showcase on Saipan courts.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
