New Caledonia, Tahiti seeded in badminton mixed team event

From left, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tahiti players pose for a photo at the medal ceremony for the mixed team event in the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia. New Caledonia and Tahiti will be the Top 2 seeds in the mixed team event in the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022.(BADMINTON OCEANIA)

New Caledonia and Tahiti are the Top 2 seeds in the mixed team event of the badminton competition in the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022.

Two-time mixed team champion, New Caledonia, will enter the tournament as top seed based on the world ranking points of their players, followed by Tahiti as second seed.

Badminton has been part of the Pacific Games sporting program in four editions since 2003—Fiji (2003), New Caledonia (2011) and Samoa (2007 and 2019—with a mixed team event and individual tournament taking place in each edition. The multi-sport Games are held every four years with the Mini Games (lesser number of sports offered) held two years after the Pacific Games, also on a four-year cycle.

This year, badminton will be featured at the Pacific Mini Games for the first time in the Northern Marianas 2022 edition (rescheduled from its original date in 2021) with competitions taking place from June 20 to 25.

In 2019, the highly anticipated final game between New Caledonia and Tahiti came to an electrifying finish. New Caledonia’s narrow 3-2 victory caused a three-way tie for the gold, with Fiji also in contention. The countback awarded Fiji with the gold medal, followed by New Caledonia (silver) and Tahiti (bronze). Fiji won’t be competing in 2022 and Tahiti will be seeking vengeance for their bronze finish.

NMI takes on Tahiti
in opener
Tournament host Northern Marianas is thrilled to be competing in front of a home crowd after making its Pacific Games debut in Samoa 2019. Three years ago, the NMI was commended for the self-sufficient methods including YouTube videos and self-led exercises (before the age of the COVID-19 pandemic) to coach themselves and learn the skills to compete. Since then, the Northern Marianas Badminton Association has expanded, and the sport increased in popularity as it took advantage of the BWF MA Grants to support grassroots programs and had taken part in Badminton Oceania’s player development programs. The NMI players’ skills will be put to the test straight away as they have to take on No. 2 seed Tahiti in their opening game.

Overall, there are six countries competing, with Wallis and Futuna (Badminton Oceania’s newest member association) excited to make its international badminton team debut. Wallis and Futuna will open its campaign on Day 1 against the top seeds.

Meanwhile, Guam will field a team (last seen at the VICTOR Oceania Mixed Team Championships 2019), fresh from training with Level 2 coach Ian Piencenaves (part of Badminton Oceania’s player development program) and exhibition matches with its neighbors and host, Northern Marianas. Similarly, the Solomon Islands will go one better than its Pacific Games 2019 appearance, where its three players only competed in the individual competition. Guam and Solomon Islands will square off in the first round of the round-robin-format competition. The highly anticipated match between New Caledonia and Tahiti will be the last tie to take place on Wednesday, June 22.

Play commences from 9am (local time, GMT+10) on Monday, June 20. Follow the latest updates on Badminton Oceania’s Facebook page and website. The draws and seedings for the Individual events will be available this week. (Badminton Oceania)