After 10 intense matches on the courts, we finally found our VICTOR Oceania Junior Championships 2025 finalists.
With everything on the line, players gave it their all in hope of reaching the final. Here is your recap of the semi finals.
Mixed Doubles
In the first match of the day, Australia’s Shrey Dhand and Mimi Ngo took on compatriots Landon Kurniawan and Maureen Wijaya. Over three games, each side extended their lead only for the other pair to catch back up. As the men took control of the rallies, the women fought for dominance, particularly near the net. The second seeds, Kurniawan and Wijaya went up early, winning the first game despite a last minute charge from their opponents. Dhand and Ngo dug deep to secure the second.
After 45 minutes, the duo of Dhand and Ngo broke away to take the third game 21-18 to book their spot in the finals.
“After losing the first set, we kept the belief that we could still win, kept composed and kept pushing.” — Mimi Ngo (AUS)
Next up, Jayden Lim and Victoria Tjonadi (AUS) faced the Kiwis, Raphael Deloy and Yanxi Liu.
In another close match, the Australians edged out their competitors for a first game win. In the second, Deloy and Liu found their rhythm. The Kiwis stretched a lead early, going 6-1. Holding their form through the last section of the game, they took the second game 21-13.
Lim and Tjonadi put a stop to the New Zealanders’ momentum early in the third game. Capitalising on the disruption, the Australians’ pushed through to victory, earning their spot in the final with a 21-17, 13-21, 21-15 score.
Men’s Singles
On Court 1, Shrey Dhand secured his spot in the final without much disruption. His opponent, Wey Shawn Ng (AUS), went to great lengths to disrupt Dhand’s play, but it was not quite enough. Dhand won the match 21-6, 21-12.
On the next court, number three seed, Landon Kurniawan took on the second seed, Zhi-Ron Tan (AUS). Tan went up in the first game 21-10, before Kurniawan fought back to clinch the second game. From there, Kurniawan powered on, taking the third to win the match, 10-21, 21-12, 21-11.
Women’s Singles
Josephine Zhao looked to become the first kiwi to find a spot in the finals. Up against the number one seed, Victoria Tjonadi, it was going to be tough, but Zhao was prepared for the challenge.
Off to a strong start, the New Zealander took a commanding lead early in the first game. Tjonadi scored a string of points late into the game but the gap was too great and Zhao closed out 21-16.
Zhao looked to replicate her execution in the second game, once again taking the early lead. However, this time, Tjonadi timed her attack to perfection. In a last minute surge, the Australian pushed to score point after point. She won the second game 21-19 to force a decider game.
With her new momentum, Tjonadi never looked back. The Australian took the final game 21-11 to gain a place in the final.
On the next court, it was an all-Australian battle for the second spot in the finals. Second seed, Faye Huo (AUS) looked confident in her first game against Mimi Ngo. Taking the first game, 21-14, Huo was poised close out the match in two. Coming into game two, Ngo changed up her tactics. This worked in her favour, and she ran away with the game, 21-11.
The opponents were inseparable throughout the third game. With bated breath, the spectators watched the relentless battle. Huo finally won the match, with a 21-19 game.
Men’s Doubles
It took 46 minutes to find our first finalist in the men’s doubles. On Court 1, New Zealand’s Raphael Deloy and Lezhi Zhu played Jayden Lim and Wey Shawn Ng, In a closely contested match, both sides took the lead at different points.
“I started a little slow but I got into it, we pulled through and I’m happy we won.” — Lezhi Zhu (NZL)
On the other court, Tahiti’s Matt Chagnot and Mike Mi You faced Phillip Halim and Landon Kurniawan. The young Tahiti players played their best, but could not match the experience of power of then opponents. The Australians took the match comfortably, winning 21-6, 21-12 to progress to the finals.
Women’s Doubles
Mimi Ngo and Maureen Wijaya were out for revenge. After falling to New Zealand in the women’s doubles of the teams championship, they were determined to make sure it didn’t happen again. Facing Yanxi Liu and Josephine Zhao (NZL) on Court 1, the pair commanded the court from the beginning. The VICTOR Oceania Championship runner-ups wrapped up the match in 19 minutes, with a 21-8, 21-10 win over their opponents.
Number one seeds Victoria Tjonadi and Seryna Xiao (AUS) showed exactly why they are ranked first. The pair dominated their match against New Zealand’s Lillian Cao and Qixuan Yang to win 21-14, 21-9 and solidify an Australian matchup in the final.
Coming Up Tomorrow
Tomorrow the VICTOR Oceania Junior Champions will be crowned.
In the women’s singles, Victoria Tjonadi will face Faye Huo.
For men’s singles, Shrey Dhand and Landon Kurniawan will play for the title.
In the women’s doubles, Mimi Ngo and Maureen Wijaya are looking to upset Victoria Tjonadi and Seryna Xiao.
Raphael Deloy and Lezhi Liu will represent New Zealand against Phillip Halim and Landon Kurinawan.
Finally, Mimi Ngo and Shrey Dhand will return to the court to take on Jayden Lim and Victoria Tjonadi (in her third final of the day).
