Secondary schools students from around Rarotonga came together to battle it out in the sixth Annual College Badminton Tournament on Friday 10 June at the National Sports Arena.
The excellent initiative developed by Badminton Cook Islands enjoyed its sixth year in 2021, making a prominent revival following last year’s cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Festivities begin five weeks out from the tournament, with a Shuttle Time tour of Rarotonga where qualified instructors lead sessions for students aged between 10 to 12 years (juniors) and 13 to 15 years (seniors).
Throughout the five weeks, students learn the fundamental rules of the game, before practicing techniques to play a competitive match.
Culminating with the day-long tournament, students are given the chance to showcase their skills with opportunities to be identified for junior national team competitions. Two months ago, a junior team flew to New Zealand to compete and train in domestic competitions and the association is looking to do something similar with a larger group in September 2021.
Badminton Cook Islands President, Thomas Ngauru, said that it was a brilliant day in which he hoped everybody had fun.
“It is very busy times for us here. The badminton competition (yesterday) has been a big part of our development for our kids as some of them continue to prepare and up skill themselves for the competitions in New Zealand. There was a lot of really great talent spotted which was great,” Ngauru said.
Following the substantial increase in awareness surrounding the tournament, the Association were able to onboard the Edgewater Resort and Spa as trophy sponsors and Vodafone to provide data vouchers for ‘outstanding players’.
Apii Avarua and Nukutere College were the two schools to watch, having swept the awards table. Apii Avarua took the Overall Junior Champions title and Nukutere won the Senior Championship Title.
Full results
| Junior Division Results | Senior Division Results | |
| Boys Singles – Winner | Kaiyin Mataio – Nukutere College | Emanuela Mataio – Nukutere College |
| Boys Singles – Runner Up | Tahitoa Webb – Apii Avarua | Zarrian Heather-Rau – Nukutere College |
| Girls Singles – Winner | Vaitea Crocombe-Ama – Apii Avarua | Tereapii Akavi – Nukutere College |
| Girls Singles – Runner Up | Tara Aperau – Nukutere College | Loureina Kureta – Tereora College |
| Boys Doubles – Winner | Apenisa Bogitini & Jade Cowan – Nukutere College | Jordan Peraua & Jeremiah Enetama – Nukutere College |
| Boys Doubles – Runner Up | Davis Tetauru & Aporo Williams – Apii Avarua | Charlie Ngatoko & Mark Queddrick – Nukutere College |
| Girls Doubles – Winner | Casonya Bates & Lafala Va’ai – Apii Avarua | Tehani Matapo & Taira Tangaroa – Nukutere College |
| Girls Doubles – Runner Up | Leah Schuster & Anilia Heather-Marsters – Apii Avarua | Chiann Naslund & Katee Wearing – Tereora College |
| Mixed Doubles – Winner | Tilati Ataela & Maretu Goodwin – Apii Avarua | Setephano Vakatini & Mahana Sijp – Nukutere College |
| Mixed Doubles – Runner Up | Tunui Tangaroa & Raetea Rongo – Apii Avarua | Maevarangi Kirikava & Paula Manlangit – Nukutere College |
Article adapted from Badminton Oceania website.