THE Northern Marianas Badminton Association will welcome elite badminton athletes as it hosts the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2025 and the Century Insurance Saipan International 2025 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium next month.
Expected to put on a show in the NMI are former Olympians, a pair of European champions, a former World Junior finalist, and several world-ranked players. The Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2025 will run from Aug. 5-10, while the Century Insurance Saipan International 2025 will be played from Aug. 12-16. Both events are sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation and Badminton Oceania and will feature matches in the men’s and women’s singles and men’s, women’s and mixed doubles.
Men’s singles
The men’s singles draw at the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2025 is led by Jeon Hyeok Jin of Korea, currently ranked World No. 37. A Paris 2024 Olympian and former Korea Masters champion, Jeon is known for his powerful baseline game and tactical precision.
He will battle the men’s singles against India’s S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian, who is ranked World No. 55 and enters both tournaments as the second seed. A former World Junior silver medalist, Subramanian is one of India’s brightest young talents. Fellow Indian Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, seeded third, adds intensity and flair, known for his aggressive style and sharp net play. Malaysia’s Kok Jing Hong, Israel’s Misha Zilberman, and Canada’s Xiaodong Sheng round out a competitive top field.
Women’s singles
India’s Tanya Hemanth leads the women’s singles draw at both tournaments. Ranked World No. 86, Hemanth claimed the women’s singles title at the YONEX Bendigo International 2024 in Australia, and is known for her calm demeanor and tactical precision.
Japan’s Sakura Masuki, runner-up at the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024, and Peru’s Inés Lucía Castillo Salazar, a Paris 2024 Olympian and Pan Am Games bronze medalist, will be Hemanth’s rivals in the Crowne Plaza-sponsored event.
Mixed doubles
New Zealand’s Edward Lau and Shaunna Li are at the top the mixed doubles draw at both tournaments. Ranked World No. 99, Lau and Li combine power and precision and have become one of Oceania’s most formidable mixed duos.
Another pair to watch is Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje, who are bringing world-class credentials as former Top 10 players and European Games medalists. The Danish duo made it to the finals of the BWF European Games in 2024 before losing to France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue. Christiansen and Boje also represented Denmark in the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Men’s doubles
Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi headline the men’s doubles draw at both tournaments. Ranked World No. 83, the pair is known for their fast-paced, coordinated play, and consistent performances on the BWF circuit. Their chemistry and attacking style make them strong favorites in the two NMBA-hosted tournaments.
Women’s doubles
Chinese Taipei’s Teng Chun Hsun and Yang Chu Yun lead the women’s doubles competition across both events. Ranked World No. 26, Teng and Yang bring elite-level experience and a commanding presence to the court. Their aggressive frontcourt play and seamless teamwork position them as top contenders for the title.
All matches in next month’s tournaments are free and open to the public, with live streaming available on Badminton Oceania’s YouTube channel. For schedules, draws, and live updates, visit www.oceaniabadminton.org or follow @BadmintonOceania and @NMIBadminton on social media.
Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje will be among the players to watch in the mixed doubles event in the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2025 that will be played from Aug. 5 to 10 at the Ada gym next month.
Badminton World Federation photo
2024 Paris Olympics participant Jeon Hyeok Jin of Korea leads the men’s singles field in the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2025.
Badminton World Federation photo
