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Q+A with Australian Olympic debutant, Setyana Mapasa

Pictured: Setyana Mapasa. Photo credit: Australian Olympic Committee In five days, Setyana Mapasa will be making her Olympic debut in Tokyo, representing Australia in the Women’s Doubles. Setyana narrowly missed out on competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as she was ruled ineligible by the governing body following complication with her nationality change from…

Q+A with Australian Olympic debutant, Gronya Somerville

Pictured: Gronya Somerville. Photo credit: Australian Olympic Committee Another Olympic debutant in Tokyo is Gronya Somerville, representing Australia in the Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. Gronya came close to qualification in Rio 2016 with her partner, Setyana Mapasa. However, Mapasa was ruled ineligible by the governing body following complication with her nationality change from…

Team Up focuses on: Disability

Pictured: A participant in the Inclusive GymBad program in Papua New Guinea / Pacific Sports Partnerships In the latest of Team Up’s ‘focus on’ series, they explore why and how Team Up programs work towards greater disability inclusion in the Pacific. Shuttle Time is a critical part of the Inclusive GymBad programme which takes place…

Overcoming record-size tumour; Iakopo dedicates time and passion to growth of badminton in Tuvalu

Tuvalu Badminton Association’s President, Iakopo Molotii, discovered badminton in 2005 when he joined some of the islands expatriates to play badminton socially. He took a liking to the sport and quickly built up the foundations of Tuvalu Badminton, affirming their membership with Badminton Oceania in 2006, and attending the 2007 Pacific Games as both a…

Northern Marianas gather excitement for Pacific Mini Games as they host free team tournament

The Northern Marianas Badminton Association (NMBA) hosted its first competition of the 2021 season last weekend, at the TSL Sports Complex. More than 50 players signed up to compete in the TanHoldings Badminton Team Tournament, which involed mixed teams comepting across all five disciplines. In an effort to attract new talent and celebrate the freedom to…

BWF announce Hall of Fame Inductees 2021

BWF Media Update Olympic gold medallists Zhang Ning, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng have been inducted into the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Hall of Fame. The trio from China will be officially recognised at a virtual ceremony and media event hosted by BWF on Wednesday 16 June 2021. Zhang, Cai and Fu were key figures…

Humans of Shuttle Time: Iakopo Molotii – Tuvalu

Pictured: Iakopo Molotii – second from left The Badminton World Federation’s Humans of Shuttle Time series presents the perspectives of those who work on badminton development at the grassroots level. Iakopo Molotii, Shuttle Time National Coordinator for Tuvalu Badminton Association, recounts how badminton has impacted his life on and off the court. I spent my childhood…