One Para Badminton tournament in your home region is great, two within two weeks is fantastic and an opportunity not to be missed. This is what the Oceania Para badminton athletes were treated to in October 2024.
The first tournament, being the VICTOR Oceania Para Badminton Championships was held in Mandurah, Perth. 43 players from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji had the opportunity to play and compete in this three day event to find the 2024 Para Badminton Oceania Champions. Para Badminton covers athletes that are in standing, wheelchair and short stature classes.
Papua New Guinea had a solid contingent of six players across Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles events. Jerome Bunge (PNG) was one of two players from Papua New Guinea to medal in Perth. Bunge won bronze in the Singles SL 3 while teammate Danny Ten also won bronze, in the Men’s Doubles SL3 & SL 4 with Oliver Linton (NZL).
Corrie Robinson (NZL) made a return to international Para badminton and immediately stamped his name on three championship medals. Robinson, who plays in the standing class won the Mens Singles SL3 + SL4, Men’s Doubles SL3 – SL4 with fellow New Zealander, Wojtek Czyz and Mixed Doubles SL3 – SU5, also with a compatriot, Carrie Wilson (NZL).
Australian youngster, Lochan Cowper also featured on the podium multiple times with wins in the wheelchair class. The Singles WH1 + WH 2 saw Cowper take silver while the Men’s Doubles with Qambar Ali Akhteyari (AUS) and Mixed Doubles with Mischa Ginns (AUS) had him front and centre with two gold medals and the Oceania Championship titles.
Following the VICTOR Oceania Championships and at the same location was the Western Australia Para Badminton International 2024. Players from 33 countries arrived at Mandurah to play in what was to be as display of skill, strength, determination, enjoyment and success.
Many of the players who participated in the VICTOR Oceania Championships continued their campaigns by taking on the international challenge ahead of them. Wojtek Czyz and Corrie Robinson (NZL) earned bronze medals in the Men’s Doubles SL3 – SL4 class. Following in their footsteps were Caitlin Dransfield (AUS)/Carrie Wilson (NZL) who also attained bronze medals in the Women’s Doubles SL3-SU5 class.
