Nolan Nate goes for a return during his and Jude Mallari’s men’s doubles game in the PSS-TakeCare Interscholastic Badminton League, High School Division. He will be among the NMI players competing in next week’s VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships 2025 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Contributed photo
FUTURE badminton stars are set to shine at the VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships 2025 that will take place at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium from June 8 to 15.
The premier continental tournament brings together the region’s most promising young badminton players for a week of elite competition and cultural exchange. Hosted by Badminton Oceania in partnership with the Northern Marianas Badminton Association, and proudly sponsored by VICTOR, the championships will feature over 60 junior athletes from seven countries and territories, including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Guam, and host nation Northern Marianas.
The tournament will open with the Oceania Junior Mixed Team Championships from June 8 to 10, where national teams will compete in a round-robin format for regional supremacy. The tournament will also be played in a brand-new scoring system. As one of the first junior tournaments globally to trial this proposed format, the Oceania juniors are uniquely positioned to help shape the future of the sport.
The latter half of the week, from June 12–15, will feature the individual championships, where players will battle it out in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events across the Under 19 age group.
“On the back of hosting the 2022 Mini Games and two Grade 3 International Tournaments in 2023 and 2024, we are thrilled to bring the region’s brightest young talent to the beautiful Northern Marianas,” said Julie Carrel, secretary general of Badminton Oceania.
“This event not only focuses on the results on the court but also on the education of these young players and cultural exchange across the Pacific.”
This year marks the first time the championships are being held in the Northern Marianas, reflecting the territory’s growing presence in the sport and its commitment to youth development.
“We are excited to welcome the promising players from our region and showcase our warm island hospitality. We are also excited for our own players, as this time they will be able to play in front of the home crowd and will have more opportunities to compete against the top junior players across the Pacific,” Northern Marianas Badminton Association President Merlie Tolentino said.
Besides the NMI U19 Junior National Team, several players from NMBA’s interscholastic program will see action in the individual championship category of the regional competition. Matches are open to the public for free and will also be livestreamed on Badminton Oceania’s YouTube channel
For schedules, draws, and live updates, visit www.oceaniabadminton.org or follow @BadmintonOceania on social media.
