This year’s Tahiti team for VOJC is no stranger is medals. Hunting their first Oceania Junior Mixed Team title in Saipan next month, their players have won various Pacific gold medals over the last three years.
Five members of their squad were part of the winning U17 Pacific Invitational team in Geelong in 2024.
Those players, Matt Chagnot, Mike Mi You, Maureen Mi You, Ninon Malaval, and Waianuhea Teheura, no doubt broadened their understanding of competing internationally from that experience.
Four of those five players were also a part of the team that won the U15 Pacific Invitation in Auckland in 2023, Anita Mercier was also part of this U15 team that won in 2023.
Waianuhea was also a member of the Tahiti team that took gold at the Pacific Mini Games in Saipan in 2022. She was the youngest player in the competition, at only 13 years of age.
The 14-year-old pair of Teo Chagnot and Sebastien Chung Meng will be looking to make an impact as newcomers to the team.
Mike Mi You, a stand-out player for the junior squad, was also a member of the Tahiti team that placed third in the VICTOR Oceania Mixed Team Championships in February.
With his experience in the Open division, he will look to bring a unique perspective and insight into the competition.
We sat down with him to see more about his goals for the VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships and beyond.
A Q&A With One of Tahiti’s Rising Stars
Are you feeling prepared for the VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships?
I feel mentally and physically ready to take part in the Oceania Juniors. Honestly, I believe I can go there and really perform, maybe even achieve something meaningful. I’m feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity about what’s going to happen, but for now I prefer to keep training hard, keep improving every day, and when the time comes, go there and show everyone what I’ve been working on. This is a big deal for me because international competitions like this don’t happen very often, and when they do, I think it’s really important to enjoy the moment.
How long have you been playing badminton for?
It’s been around 10 years now since I started playing badminton. I was just four years old when I picked it up. It was my sister who encouraged me to try it out. Later the whole family got involved and they’ve all supported me, pushed me and motivated us to train and grow into real athletes, into champions.
How has your relationship with badminton changed as you got older?
When I started out, badminton was just a fun activity for me. Then as the years went by, I found myself wanting more. I wanted to win, to compete at a higher level and to constantly push my limits and get better and better.
What do you love about badminton?
What I really love about badminton is the variety and intensity of the gameplay. It can go from slow and strategic to fast and explosive in an instant. It’s a sport that’s both extremely physical and highly technical matches can go on for a log time and the breaks are super short so you can never afford to give up or switch off, not even for a second.
What’s your favourite discipline?
If I had to choose, my favorite event is definitely singles. I do play doubles and mixed as well, and I enjoy those too. But if I had to pick just one, I’d say singles is what suits me best. I think what draws me to singles is the fact that you’re completely on your own on the court and you have to do all the running, all the decision making. If you lose, it’s all on you, there’s no one else to blame. In doubles it can be harder to manage not just your own emotions, but also the dynamics and energy of your partner. In singles I feel like I can stay in control of everything.
What are your goals for VOJC and beyond?
Right now my first goal is to win a few matches at the Oceania Juniors, then if things go well, I’d love reaching the top 10 nationally in France. And if I managed to reach that level one day, I’d dream of going to the Olympic Games. I don’t know exactly when, maybe in 2032.
There’s under three weeks until the tournament begins. Find more information about the event on our website.
