First to step on court, last to leave — Japan’s Tori Aizawa had two opportunities to reach the final round of the YONEX Northern Marianas Open today. In the men’s doubles, Aizawa and his partner Daisuke Sano overcame a slow start against Korea’s Hyun/Lee to keep their title hopes alive, winning 13-21, 21-12, 21-14. Later…
The draws continue to narrow at the YONEX Northern Marianas Open, and with the field wide open, both seeded players and underdogs brought their best in a bid for coveted semifinal spots. In their first international outing as a duo in nearly a year, Tori Aizawa/Hina Osawa (JPN) toppled 2024 Olympic silver medalist Jeong Na…
The top seeds fell hard on day 3 at the YONEX Northern Marianas Open. Eight of the tournament’s highest-ranked players are out, and with the field narrowing, the titles are suddenly up for grabs. Three number-one seeds went down across three disciplines. In mixed doubles, Mohit Jaglan/Lakshita Jaglan (IND) never found their rhythm, folding to…
From the very first serve, day two of the YONEX Northern Marianas Open delivered the action. For some, today marked a milestone achievement. For others, the disappointment of falling just short was palpable. For Tian Qi Zhang and Audery Chang, today’s win was confirmation of the hard work they’ve been putting in. “We’re taking it…
The YONEX Northern Marianas Open kicked off today at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, marking the first sports event held on Saipan since Super Typhoon Sinlaku tore through the island in April. And for a community still rebuilding, watching international shuttlers back on court felt like a milestone in itself. It wasn’t a typical opening…
Three months after Super Typhoon Sinlaku caused widespread damage across the Northern Mariana Islands, athletes from more than 20 countries will converge on Saipan as international badminton returns to the Pacific. The YONEX Northern Marianas Open and CROWNE PLAZA Saipan International represent not only a return of world-class competition, but a chance for Saipan to…
Powerful storytelling and tireless dedication earned Inclusive GymBad high honours at last night’s 2026 Team Up Folktale Oscars. The Folktale Oscars is an annual celebration of powerful, real-life impact stories from the Australian Government’s Team Up programme. It brings the voices of the Pacific to the forefront. The event also spotlights the storytellers behind the…
SAIPAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS – Following Super Typhoon Sinlaku’s impact in the Northern Mariana Islands, Badminton Oceania (BOC) and the Northern Marianas Badminton Association (NMBA) are reviewing the feasibility of upcoming tournaments. A decision will be announced on 22 May 2026 (ChST). The affected tournaments are the YONEX Northern Marianas Open 2026, CROWNE PLAZA Saipan…
When the Badminton Papua New Guinea (BPNG) Executive Committee and emerging leaders gathered at the Papua New Guinea Olympic House on 25 April, it wasn’t business as usual. They became the first member association to pilot Badminton Oceania’s new Member Association Capacity Building Course (MACBC). Developed over the past year, the MACBC strengthens how badminton…
Saipan, Northern Marianas — The Northern Marianas Sports Association (NMSA) awarded Janelle Pangilinan Coach of the Year at the recent 2025 NMSA Annual Awards Banquet. Pangilinan—herself a Pacific Mini Games medalist for NMI— has spent the last decade driving the growth of badminton in the Northern Mariana Islands. A certified BWF Level 1 coach, she…