From pilot to performance: Tonga celebrating ninth year of Shuttle Time on International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

In 2011, Tonga became the first country in the world to pilot the BWF Shuttle Time programme. Since it’s inception nine years ago, the initiative has gone on to provide communities and schools with badminton equipment and platforms to learn in over 130 countries. At the time, Badminton Oceania’s Development Manager, Nadia Bleaken, was new…

Details

Oceania Tour 2020 – cancelled

Following the cancellation and suspension of three events in Badminton Oceania’s playing calendar, the Oceania Tour 2020 has been cancelled. In March, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) suspended all HSBC BWF World Tour and BWF-sanctioned tournaments from 16 March – 12 April 2020 which had an impact on two of Badminton Oceania’s tournaments: the YONEX…

Details

Gronya Somerville: ‘I plan to bring my Sports Science Degree skills out during this time’

Pictured: Gronya Somerville, Australia. Photo credit: Badminton Photo It wasn’t until mixed doubles partner, Simon Leung, brought up the COVID-19 topic at the end of January that Somerville learnt of the virus. While competing in the Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters 2020 in January, Leung reached out to alert Gronya about the unfolding events in China,…

Details

Oceania represented at the BWF continental confederation assessors workshop

Pictured: David Turner and Kelly Hoare, Australian Umpires. Photo credit: Badminton Photo Earlier this month, two of Oceania’s Umpire Assessors joined like-minded individuals from across the globe to attend the BWF Umpire Assessors Workshop. The workshop was aimed at allowing all continents to maintain consistency when assessing – no matter where in the world they…

Details

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – Postponed

BWF MEDIA STATEMENT The International Olympic Committee (IOC), Tokyo Organising Committee and Japan Government today confirmed that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have been postponed due to the COVID-19 situation. IOC President Thomas Bach and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe confirmed the decision after conference call among leaders on Tuesday. A joint IOC-Tokyo Organising Committee statement…

Details

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games – Postponed

BWF MEDIA STATEMENT International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons welcomed yesterday’s decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. IOC President Thomas Bach and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe confirmed the postponement of the the Olympic Games decision after conference call among leaders on Tuesday. Parsons said in a statement: “Postponing the Tokyo…

Details

Recovering from injury and adapting during this ‘disheartening time’ – Australia’s Setyana Mapasa

Pictured: Setyana Mapasa, Australia. Photo credit: Badminton Photo As the world copes with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, athletes across the globe are learning to cope with the new, unforeseen circumstances which will shape their future careers. The International Olympic Committee has yet to make a decision on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, following their official…

Details

Whirlwind journey for New Zealand’s Olympic hopefuls as COVID-19 halts tour of Europe

Pictured: Oliver Leydon-Davis and Anona Pak, New Zealand. Photo Credit: Luis Veniegra Photography Last month, New Zealand trio Abhinav Manota, Oliver Leydon-Davis and Anona Pak enjoyed shared success at the VICTOR Oceania Championships as Manota took home two individual Gold medals in the men’s singles and doubles (alongside Leydon-Davis), while all three took home a…

Details