Finals day at the VICTOR Oceania Para Badminton Championships was held alongside the YONEX Bendigo International, creating a unique environment where para and able-bodied athletes competed in parallel. The shared venue brought both tournaments together, not just logistically, but socially. Players from each event watched the other’s finals, filling the bleachers and lining the courtsides. It was common to see para athletes cheering on international stars, and Bendigo International players stopping in their tracks to take in the para finals.
That atmosphere added something special to the day. Para athletes supported each other throughout the schedule, whether they were still competing or had already finished. Encouragement came from teammates, rivals, and even spectators who had only just discovered the sport. The environment was warm, welcoming, and full of respect, an honest reflection of the community that’s growing around para badminton in Oceania.
Each of the five participating countries earned at least one medal, a milestone that speaks to the increasing competitiveness and inclusivity of the sport in the region. For Vanuatu, the newest member of the Oceania para badminton family, their debut was marked by a podium finish thanks to Jacklynda Molidu, who secured the country’s first medal in the sport.
Papua New Guinea reached a historic milestone of its own. In the SL3–SU5 mixed doubles final, Regina Edward teamed up with New Zealand’s Thomas Slade to win PNG’s first-ever female para badminton medal. Their 21–16, 21–4 victory was decisive, but the significance went far beyond the score.
“I’m really stoked to have met and played with Regi today,” said Slade. “I’ve travelled from Japan for this tournament so to come all this way and get a medal is more than I could ask for.”
Edward added, “I’m so happy. I’m very proud because it is my first time getting a medal.”
Slade also claimed two more golds, one in the SL4 + SU5 men’s singles final, defeating Australia’s Lachlan Boulton 21–9, 21–7, and another in the men’s doubles SL3 – SL 4 + SU 5 final, alongside Australia’s Michael Simpkins.
In the SL3 men’s singles final, New Zealand’s Rishikesh Venu overcame Australia’s Riley Foster in a three-game battle. After dropping the first game 9–21, Venu adjusted his strategy and came back to win 21–12, 21–7.
“I reset myself, broke the rally if I needed to and take my time before I started the next one,” Venu said. “I was defensive against him because in the previous game I was more attacking.”
The SL3–SL4 bronze medal match in men’s doubles saw Australia’s Hayden Bognar and Brandon Poon edge out PNG’s Jerome Bunge and Danny Ten in a tight three-game contest: 17–21, 21–11, 21–19.
“I am ecstatic,” said Bognar. “To win this doubles match was amazing, I can’t thank Brandon enough.”
Poon added, “I didn’t think coming here three days ago, meeting a guy, to winning bronze would be something we’d ever achieve.”
One of the most intense matches of the day came in the WH1–WH2 doubles final, where Australia’s Qambar Akhteyari and Lochan Cowper faced off against top seeds Martyn Ford and Grant Manzoney. Ford and Manzoney took the first game 21–15 with aggressive net play and sharp placement. Akhteyari and Cowper regrouped, tightened their defence, and began to control the pace. They edged the second game 21–18 and carried that momentum into the third, winning 21–15 to claim the title after a hard-fought 53-minute battle.
In the wheelchair singles, Cowper and Akhteyari also claimed individual titles in WH1 and WH2 respectively.
The SH6 category saw success for both Australia and Papua New Guinea. PNG’s Daniel Kaniku won the men’s singles final, while Australia’s Sophie Keenahan took gold in the women’s singles. Their exhibition doubles match added a light-hearted but competitive close to the SH6 schedule.
Finals day in Bendigo reflected the steady growth of para badminton in Oceania. With new nations joining, historic medals earned, and athletes supporting each other across courts and classifications, the sport continues to build momentum, both in performance and in community.
