Young badminton players from across the Pacific descended on Auckland for a week of learning, competition, and fun in early February.
The 2025 Pacific U15 Invitation Team Challenge is a mixed team badminton competition designed to foster the development of young athletes across the region. Linked to the Player Development Programme, Member Associations that showcase dedication to improving their player pathways are invited to compete.
This year, players from the Cook Islands, Guam, New Caledonia, Northern Marianas, and Wallis & Futuna took part. The competition runs parallel to the VICTOR Oceania Mixed Team Championships, allowing under-15 players to experience an international competitive environment with technical officials, live scoring, and medal presentations.
The action kicked off with a three-day training camp. Running from February 7 – 9 under the guidance of Badminton Oceania’s Coaching and Development Manager, Robbie Thackham, the camp provided an excellent opportunity for these young talents to develop their skills and build camaraderie with their peers from different countries.
After the training camp, the region’s up and coming athletes were ready to put their learnings and hard work to the test.
New Caledonia emerged as the champions of the competition, showcasing their skills and determination in a closely contested final against the Cook Islands.
The Northern Marianas team displayed strong performances across all matches to secure the bronze medal.
Participating for the first time, Wallis & Futuna impressed with their competitive spirit and resilience. They just missed the podium, but their debut performance promises a bright future for their young athletes.
Guam competed with enthusiasm and sportsmanship, despite having the youngest team in the competition – their youngest player was just nine years old.
This week of exposure allowed the next generation of young badminton players to compete alongside the continent’s strongest players and prepared them for future high-level events. Between the trainings to improve technical skills and cultural exchanges of meeting peers from Pacific nations, this competitive environment aims to boost young athletes’ confidence and help them realise what is possible for them in the sport.