Just three months after Typhoon Sinlaku caused widespread damage across Saipan, the Northern Mariana Islands hosted three international badminton tournaments and produced 15 new junior technical officials through the Badminton Oceania Junior Umpire Award.
In July, two BWF Grade 3 tournaments, the YONEX Northern Marianas Open and the CROWNE PLAZA Saipan International, drew players from across three continents to compete for world ranking points. These events were followed by the CROWNE PLAZA Oceania Masters in Paradise, a tournament catered to players age 35+ that also included the Badminton Oceania Junior Umpire Award. The three-week event at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium marked a significant step in the territory’s recovery, both on and off the court.
Recovering From Typhoon Sinlaku
Typhoon Sinlaku struck Saipan in April, causing widespread damage across the island.
Like many athletes, national player Shaina Malonzo was unable to train regularly for nearly two months after the typhoon damaged her family’s home and the island’s badminton facilities.
In the weeks that followed, badminton training came to a halt as families focused on repairing homes, restoring power and water, and helping relatives recover. Two of the territory’s badminton courts were left unusable due to water damage and mould, and players training on the remaining court did so without proper lighting.
For a 17-year-old local line judge who lived through both Sinlaku and Typhoon Yutu in 2018, the destruction brought back difficult memories. “It had taken us so long to rebuild after Typhoon Yutu, and knowing we would have to start over again was difficult,” he said.
Malonzo’s first sustained time back on court came through the Youth Advisory Group programme, helping run activities for younger players. “The only chance I got to hit the shuttle again was helping the kids,” she said.
Tournament Returns to Saipan
Three months after the storm, the Northern Marianas Badminton Association (NMBA) worked alongside local and federal agencies to prepare venues for the three tournaments, welcoming players and officials from across Oceania and beyond.
Across the three tournaments, over 200 players from more than 20 countries gathered in Saipan to compete.
Among the few international sports events to take place in Saipan this year, the badminton visitors to Saipan provided a much-needed boost to the local economy, as tourist numbers dropped in the months following Sinlaku.
For Malonzo, the tournaments represented more than a return to competition.
“It’s really nice. I’m kind of happy because having these tournaments back means I can have fun again and meet more people,” she said.
A 17-year-old local line judge echoed that sentiment, noting how rare it is for Saipan to host an international event.
“The fact that we’re still able to hold this tournament just really makes me happy,” he said. “No matter what challenges we face, we’re still able to host events and reconnect with people from around the world.”
Beyond bringing international badminton back to Saipan, the tournament series also created an opportunity to strengthen the territory’s technical officials pathway.
Badminton Oceania Junior Umpire Award
One of the most significant legacies of the tournament series was the development of a new generation of technical officials through the Badminton Oceania Junior Umpire Award.
Held alongside the CROWNE PLAZA Oceania Masters in Paradise, the Badminton Oceania Junior Umpire Award gave young NMI players their first experience officiating. Candidates completed a physical assessment on the stand, a written test on the Laws of Badminton, and for many, their first use of the Livescore system.
The award is an entry-level qualification with two levels — Accredited and Certificated — that feeds into the Pacific and Oceania Umpire certification pathways.
The programme culminated in 15 junior officials earning qualifications across the two award levels.
Results:
- 4 candidates gained Pacific Junior Accredited Umpire status
- 11 candidates gained Pacific Junior Certificated Umpire status
The assessments were delivered entirely by locally qualified officials, showing the continued development of NMI’s technical officials’ programme.
The assessors were Daniell Mar Pablo (Pacific Accredited) and Brian Lubao (Pacific Accredited), led by Christy Villaflor (Pacific Certificated).
Christy Villaflor, NMBA Secretary General:
Villaflor was the first official from Saipan to pursue umpire accreditations, progressing to Pacific Certification as an umpire and BWF Line Judge status. She has since mentored NMI’s newest generation of officials.
“This is very good for NMBA and NMI badminton, as we are growing the pool of technical officials as well as gaining good experience and training for the juniors officiating matches,” she said. “They got to learn new updates on the Laws of the Game.”
Villaflor noted that candidates were initially nervous but grew in confidence over the course of the tournament. “At the beginning, they were nervous and afraid to make mistakes, but as the matches went on, most of them started to gain confidence and became more relaxed in officiating the matches,” she said. “After a day of competition, they were all excited to attend their briefing to find out which court and which players they were assigned to officiate.”
“Seeing them makes me feel so proud of what they’ve accomplished, and hopeful for them to continue the path of being technical officials,” she added. “This will also ensure that we will be having young and new officials in the next competitions.”
While recovery from Typhoon Sinlaku continues, the emergence of 15 newly qualified junior officials ensures that the tournament’s impact will extend beyond the players on court, strengthening NMI’s officiating pathway for future events.