Australia’s Jack and Angela Yu and Landon Kurniawan/Mimi Ngo won their mixed doubles openers on Day 1 of the 12th MAXX North Harbour International at Badminton North Harbour on Wednesday. In men’s singles, reigning Oceania champion Shrey Dhand was eliminated in the Round of 64.
Eleven countries are represented at this year’s tournament.
Yu siblings win in first international event together since 2020
Australian siblings Jack and Angela Yu came from a game down to outplay New Zealand’s Ricky Cheng and Amanda Ting 17-21, 21-17, 21-12 in their first tournament together since 2020.
The match was a rematch of sorts. Angela and Cheng met in the mixed doubles final at the VICTOR Oceania Championships earlier this year, which Angela won, though both were playing with different partners.
Jack, who only recently switched to doubles, said the pair had tried partnering when they were younger.
“It just wasn’t the best. But now we’ve both matured,” he said.
He said the faster format is what draws him to doubles.
“The fast pace, the adrenaline rush when you’re on the court,” he said.
Angela said playing alongside her brother has its own appeal.
“It’s always nice to play with your sibling. It’s very enjoyable to win together and fight together,” she said.
She said the pair are balancing competitiveness with a relaxed approach.
“We’re both very competitive, so we want to win, but also no pressure on both of us. We just enjoy playing with each other,” she said.
Kurniawan/Ngo advance in new partnership
On Court 1, Australia’s Landon Kurniawan and Mimi Ngo beat New Zealand’s Samuel Navarra and Victoria Guo 21-15, 21-15 in the last match of the day.
The pair have played together just once before, at Senior Nationals this year. Kurniawan said the level of this tournament is higher than they are used to.
“We just wanted to do our best and see how it goes,” he said.
Kurniawan said his independent trip to Europe helped him handle the uncertainty of being last on court.
“Anything could happen, some matches fast, some matches slower, just like in Europe. You’ve got to be ready at all times,” he said.
Dhand out, Lau through in Oceania singles
Australia’s Shrey Dhand, this year’s Oceania men’s singles champion, lost to Chiang Tzu Chieh (TPE) 16-21, 21-14, 21-11 in the longest match of the day at 63 minutes. Dhand started strongly and won the opening game before fading.
On the same court, New Zealand’s Edward Lau controlled the pace against Lu Chia Pin (TPE), winning 21-8, 21-14 in 27 minutes. Lau, the 2024 Oceania champion, was runner-up in 2025 and again this year, when Dhand beat him in the final. It was Lu’s first international appearance since 2019.
Miyashita ends Ting’s run in day’s biggest upset
The biggest upset of the day came when Japan’s Rei Miyashita defeated last year’s runner-up, Ting Yen-Chen (TPE), 16-21, 21-8, 21-19.
Miyashita, a semifinalist at last week’s POLYTRON Surabaya International Challenge, lost the opening game but dominated the second.
In the decider, Miyashita took the lead. Ting kept fighting to regain control, closing deficits and moving a point or two ahead at times, but Miyashita held firm each time to end his campaign.
Day 2
Round of 32 play begins at 10am. Jack and Angela Yu face New Zealand’s Tony Yu and Australia’s Yee-Yuan Lim, while Kurniawan and Ngo meet New Zealand’s Dylan Soedjasa and Justine Villegas. In men’s singles, Lau takes on Australia’s Muhammad Rafi Zafran Ferary.
