Day two of the VICTOR Oceania Championships 2025 showcased the fight, spirit, and skill we’ve come to expect across the region.
From the U15s, there were standout performances and tight battles all day. In mixed team division, the favourites reigned victorious, despite the other teams showing remarkable determination.
MORNING SESSION:
Mixed Team Division
Both Australia and New Zealand carried their form from Day 1, dominating their ties in every match.
In the women’s singles match, Te Pa o Te Rangi Tupa (COK) challenged Australia’s Kaitlyn Ea late in the second game, but it was too little too late. Ea surged to a match win in 21-6, 21-16. Ea’s performance helped the Falcons to a 5-0 tie win.
The Fijian team played some good rallies, but the kiwis were unrelenting, forcing errors and pressuring them at every stage of the tie. New Zealand closed out the competition in under an hour and a half with a score of 5-0.
Pacific U15 Invitation Team Challenge
Evan Seguritan, Northern Marianas Islands, reaches for the shuttle.
It was a close battle this morning between the Cook Islands and the Northern Marianas Islands.
The men’s singles match went to a third game after the Cook Islands’ Vincent Simpson forced a 24-22 win of game two. However, the Northern Marianas’ Evan Seguritan refocused to clinch the third game and overall match.
The Cook Islands team looked strong throughout the next three matches, claiming each win comfortably.
Then, Seguritan returned to the court with Breanna Lopez for the mixed doubles match. Facing Claude Simpson and Henrynna Napa, neither team were ready to admit defeat. Trading leads continuously, it was the Northern Marianas that emerged victorious, winning the match 21-16, 21-18.
Overall, the Cook Islands won the tie, 3-2.
Lyam Sargito and Olympe Darcheville of New Caledonia celebrate after scoring a point.
Wallis and Futuna pushed New Caledonia every step of the way.
The mixed doubles was close, with New Caledonia pulling away to a 23-21, 21-19 win. New Caledonia took the next three matches, but Wallis and Futuna was not done.
In the women’s doubles, Ana Nau and Leilei Saliga out scored the New Caledonia duo of Augustine Capitaine and Sara Douarche to take the first game 21-18. Yet, the New Caledonia women dug deep, and recovered to win the next two games 21-16, 21-19.
New Caledonia ran away with the overall win, the final tie score was 5-0.
AFTERNOON SESSION:
Mixed Team Division
New Zealand reminded everyone why they’re a top contender for the title. The Cook Islands showed incredible grit, but they couldn’t stop the hometown heroes on their way to a 5-0 tie win.
The men’s singles battle between Mike Mi You of Tahiti and Fiji’s Chang Ho Kim kept everyone on their toes. Kim refused to give Mi You an inch, and kept the pressure on the entire match. Eventually, Mi You prevailed, winning the match in straight games. The men’s singles win aided Tahiti to a 5-0 tie win, putting them in medal contention going into the last day of competition.
Pacific U15 Invitation Team Challenge
The battle on court three was neck-and-neck, right to the end. New Caledonia and the Northern Marianas islands traded blows, alternating winners in the first four matches.
The last match, the men’s doubles, was full of tension, with long rallies and dramatic shifts in momentum. In the end, it was the New Caledonia duo of Kimi Durand and Lyam Sargito that won, beating Northern Marianas 21-8, 21-14
Wallis and Futuna demonstrated everything they’ve learned over the last week, taking the first two matches 2-0.
In the women’s doubles, Guam showed patience. After going down 19-21 in the first game, Serena Zhou and Candice Pan remained focus to edge out Leilei Saliga and Teulagi Lenoir 21-12, 21-16 in the last two games. This gave the young Guam team their second match win of the tournament.
Although they put up a brilliant performance, Guam still fell short, in the end Wallis and Futuna won the tie 4-1.
COMING UP TOMORROW:
Tomorrow is the final day of the VICTOR Oceania Mixed Team Championships 2025. Who will be victorious? The Trans-Tasman clash on the first court will be one to watch as both New Zealand and Australia enter the final day of competition undefeated.
We can’t underestimate the action on court two, either, with Tahiti and the Cook Islands squaring off to determine who will go home with the bronze medal.
In the U15 division, the Cook Islands with face the undefeated New Caledonia, while Guam plays the Northern Marianas Islands.
It will be a day jam packed full of action, you won’t want to miss it.
Gameplay begins at 4PM.
Find the mixed team livestream on the Badminton Oceania YouTube page: https://bit.ly/4ho9WPp
For more information about the VICTOR Oceania Mixed Team Championships, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3WQAlNn
For more information about the Pacific U15 Invitation Team Challenge, click here: https://bit.ly/4jS3VMD
