Auckland Badminton’s junior representative teams have wrapped up a successful campaign at the 2025 National Junior Team Championships (NZJTC) in Palmerston North, delivering consistent performances, memorable victories, and promising signs for the future across all age groups.

U13 Division 1 – Auckland 1: Bronze Finish in a Competitive Field

Auckland 1 fought hard throughout the U13 Division 1 competition, finishing with 4 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, securing a well-earned 3rd place finish.

The team opened with two convincing 8-0 wins before holding Canterbury to a dramatic 4-4 draw, then adding a key 6-2 victory over North Harbour 2. While they fell short against eventual winners North Harbour 1 and Wellington North Blue, they ended strong with an 8-0 sweep of Waikato Black.

Coach Zeck Li praised the group:"This team showed amazing growth throughout the week. Despite a few tough matches, they never gave up, supported each other, and played with maturity beyond their years. I’m incredibly proud of their effort and progress."

U13 Division 2 – Auckland 2: Silver Success

Auckland 2 delivered a consistent and determined performance throughout the NZ Junior Team Championships 2025, earning a well-deserved 2nd place finish in the Under 13 Division 2.

The team kicked off their campaign on a dominant note, sweeping Wellington North Yellow 8-0 and following up with a 7-1 victory over Counties Manukau 2. Their momentum continued into day two with a gritty 4-4 draw against Waitakere 1, showcasing their resilience in a tight contest. Later that afternoon, they bounced back strongly to defeat Manawatu Bears 7-1.

Tuesday’s matches proved crucial in the standings. Auckland 2 faced a tough 3-5 loss to Manawatu Unicorns, their only defeat of the tournament, before clawing back for another 4-4 draw against North Harbour 3. On the final day, the team capped off the week with a decisive 6-2 win over Waikato Red, sealing second place overall in the division.

U15 Division 1 – Auckland 1: Finishing Sixth After Competitive Week

Facing off against the country’s top junior squads, Auckland 1's Under 15 team showed moments of brilliance and valuable growth across the week, finishing 6th overall in Division 1 at the 2025 NZ Junior Team Championships.

The team opened their campaign with a narrow 5-7 loss to Mainland 1, before responding in the evening session with a confident 9-3 win over Wellington Gold. Day two saw Auckland dominate with a commanding 12-0 sweep of Cook Islands, but later met a strong Counties Manukau 1 side in a tough 1-11 loss.

The final two days of round-robin play brought stiff competition. Auckland 1 struggled to contain North Harbour 1, going down 0-12, and later fell 3-9 to Waikato Black in a hard-fought evening fixture. In their final tie, they faced North Harbour 2 and put up a strong fight before ending the tournament with a 4-8 loss.

U15 Division 2 –Auckland 2 Claims 2nd Place Finish in U15 Division 2 at NZJTC 202

The Auckland 2 U15 team put on a consistent and spirited showing at the 2025 NZ Junior Team Championships, earning a well-deserved 2nd place finish in Division 2 after a strong series of match performances.

The campaign began on a high note, with Auckland dispatching Counties Manukau 2 with a convincing 8-4 win, followed by a closely contested 5-7 loss to Hutt Valley. Day two brought back-to-back wins, as the team edged BOP U15 Blue 7-5, and later secured a dominant 9-3 result over Manawatu Pickles.

On the final stretch, Auckland 2 stayed composed in their evening session on Tuesday, powering through to a solid 8-4 victory over Mainland 2. They wrapped up their campaign against a polished Waitakere side and were tested in a 3-9 defeat on the final morning.

U17 Division 1 – Auckland 1: A Strong Start and 6th Place Finish

The Auckland 1 Under 17 team delivered a gritty and determined campaign at the 2025 New Zealand Junior Team Championships, finishing 6th overall in Division 1. The team opened their week with three commanding victories, showing early signs of medal contention before coming up against some of the strongest squads in the country.

On Day One, Auckland 1 made a statement with an 11-1 win over Mainland 2 in their qualification match, followed by an emphatic 10-2 result against Wellington to open group play. The momentum continued the next morning with a 9-3 win over Waitakere Nonchalant Warriors.

However, the road toughened in the second half of the week. Auckland faced a dominant North Harbour 1, falling 0-12, and then went down 4-8 to Hutt Valley. They bounced back with a strong 10-2 win over Wellington North, sealing a top-six finish and entry into playoffs.

In their final match, Auckland 1 fought hard but fell short against Waikato in a 4-8 defeat, concluding their campaign in 6th place.

U17 Division 2 – Auckland 2: A Learning Experience with a Positive Finish 

Auckland 2’s U17 team wrapped up their 2025 NZJTC campaign with a 9th place finish in Division 2, ending the week on a high with a commanding 12-0 win over Hawke's Bay Kārearea.

It was a challenging week for the team, who faced a tough draw early on. They opened with heavy losses to Manawatu 1 (0-12) and BOP U17 Blue (0-12), but steadily improved as the tournament progressed. Closer contests followed against Taranaki (5-7) and Counties Manukau 2 (3-9), showing the team’s growth and resilience.

Their final round saw a confident and cohesive performance, securing a strong win and finishing the tournament with heads held high.

Coach Jason Gong praised the team’s determination, “The results don’t tell the full story. This team kept showing up, kept fighting, and learned a lot from each match. I’m proud of the way they finished the week—confident, positive, and united.”

While not among the top finishers, Auckland 2 ended their campaign with clear signs of progress, teamwork, and pride—setting the tone for the future.

U19 Division 1 – Auckland 1: Bronze After Dominant Run 

Auckland 1’s Under 19 team delivered a dominant performance at the 2025 New Zealand Junior Team Championships, securing 3rd place in Division 1 with an impressive 6 wins from 7 matches.

The team made an emphatic start during the qualification round, posting a 8-0 sweep over Waitakere 2. That momentum continued into the group stage, with comprehensive wins against Mainland 2 (8-0), BOP U19 Blue (8-0), Wellington North Yellow (8-0), and Wellington North Blue (8-0)—not dropping a single match across five straight ties.

A highly anticipated clash with traditional rivals North Harbour proved to be the team’s only setback, going down 0-8 to a strong and experienced side. However, Auckland 1 quickly bounced back in their final playoff tie, powering past Mainland 1 (8-0) to clinch the bronze medal in commanding fashion.

The 3rd-place finish reflects the squad’s depth and determination, providing a strong stepping stone for several players transitioning into senior-level competition in the coming seasons.

U19 Division 2 – Auckland 2: Strong Finish to Claim Ninth 

The Auckland 2 Under 19 team battled hard throughout the 2025 New Zealand Junior Team Championships, finishing 9th in Division 2 after a challenging week of competition.

The team faced a tough schedule, opening with an 8-0 loss to Waitakere 1, and encountering strong opposition throughout the group stage, including defeats to Mainland 3 (8-0), Taranaki (8-0), and a close 5-3 loss against Hutt Valley. Their most competitive match saw them narrowly edged out 5-3 by BOP U19 White.

Despite the tough run, Auckland 2 finished on a positive note with a convincing 6-2 victory over BOP U19 Silver in their playoff match, demonstrating resilience and growth across the tournament.

The team showed determination and fight despite the results, gaining valuable experience that will serve them well in future competitions.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 NZJTC was a valuable development experience for all eight Auckland squads. Across age groups and divisions, players demonstrated commitment, resilience, and strong camaraderie on and off court.

Auckland Badminton congratulates all athletes, coaches, and team managers for their dedication and proudly celebrates another successful campaign at the national level.

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