Congratulations to the Badminton Australia Junior Falcons who have been selected to represent the country at the YONEX BWF World Junior Championships in Nanchang, China from September 30 – October 13.

The team has been chosen in line with Badminton Australia’s Athlete Selection Policy.

Girls (5): Jazmine Lam (PBA – VIC), Sydney Tjonadi (Roketto – NSW), Isabella Yan (NBC – NSW), Victoria Tjonadi (Roketto – NSW) and Bethany Li (PBA – VIC).

Boys (4): Shrey Dhand (Play Badminton – VIC), Jayden Lim (PBA – VIC), Landon Kurniawan (Maxima – NSW) and Emmanuel Stephen Sam (Sams Badminton – QLD).

Coaches/Managers: Vountus Indra (BA National Assistant Head Coach & BV Head Coach) and Panuga Riou (Senior Coach at NBC – NSW)

Badminton Australia Chief Executive Officer Tjitte Weistra congratulated all the athletes on their selection.

“All of the athletes should be very proud of their selection as it’s a true honour to represent Australia and compete on the highest international stage being the BWF Junior World Championships,” he said.

“Being selected to compete for your country at the World Junior Championships isn’t an accomplishment that can be achieved overnight and takes years of hard work and dedication on and off the court; therefore, I’d also like to thank all the parents, coaches, clubs, and states and territories who have been a part of the journey and assisted with the athletes’ development.”

Badminton Australia National Performance Manager Brent Miller said the YONEX BWF World Junior Championships presented the perfect opportunity for the athletes to test themselves at an international tournament.

“Competing at the World Junior Championships will give our athletes the ideal environment to develop and refine their existing skills against fellow juniors from across the globe,” he said.

“The experience will enhance their ability on court and allow them to stay focused on achieving their long-term goals as players.

“Good luck and we can’t wait to see you all on court in Nanchang.”

Countries compete in a Team Championship for the Suhandinata Cup from September 30 – October 5, before the players take part in the Junior Championships for the Eye Level Cups from October 7 – 13.

More Information: https://corporate.bwfbadminton.com/events/world-junior-championships/

Written by Daniel Lane (via Australian Olympic Team)

The competitiveness that epitomises Australian Olympic Team member Tiffany Ho’s approach to badminton is a stark contrast to the tender touch and empathy she displays in the wards at one of Sydney’s busiest hospitals.

The 26-year-old, whose dream to compete at the Olympics was ignited when she was a 10-year-old who watched the 2008 Beijing Games opening ceremony on television, also realised at around about that same time nursing was her vocation.

“Most of my family works in the health sector,” said Ho, who was defeated last night during her final match of the Paris 2024 Olympics 21-6, 21-3 against Vietnam’s Thuy Linh Nguyen at the Port de La Chappele.

“My mother, Ethol Ho, who passed away when I was 11, was a nurse and I heard all the stories from my relatives about how caring she was, and that inspired me,” said Ho.

“I liked helping people from a young age – especially the elderly – so nursing was my calling. I just couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”

Ho, who works at Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney, said even the most adrenaline-charged of matches don’t match the day-to-day demands of her job.

“At work I’m dealing with people’s lives, whereas in sport it’s pressure, but it’s all on myself,” she said. “Any pressure in badminton comes from within, but in nursing there’s a constant pressure because you’re in charge of the patients’ health.

“When you work in hospital things don’t always pan out the way you want them to. There are days where things can go wrong, and when that happens it’s about staying calm and thinking logically through what is often high-pressure.”

The Olympian said despite the stresses that form a nurse’s lot, she finds it rewarding to help people in what may be the toughest times of their lives.

“Seeing them get the help they need makes me happy,” said Ho.

Ho, who won her first tournament when she was nine and found she loved the thrill of victory, is ecstatic to be in the Olympic city.

“Paris is a dream fulfilled,” she said. “The Olympics has been the dream ever since I was a little girl, and having that dream become a reality is quite wild. There’s time when I still can’t believe it . . .

“I’m just super excited, and feel grateful to everyone who has put in so much time and effort for me to be here.

Ho, who is ranked as the world’s 80th best female player, prides herself on fighting until the end. That, she laughs, is the legacy of having three brothers teach her from a young age about competitiveness.

“I love to work hard in a match, I’ll always grind it out,” she said. “I have a very strong mental game, and if I find myself in a situation where I’m down a lot of points I don’t give up . . . I have a ‘never give up’ attitude and I’ll keep grinding and grinding. I want to feel exhausted after a game or after a training session because I want to feel as though I’ve done everything I can.”

Written by Daniel Lane (via Australian Olympic Committee)

It’s as much the laughs as the answers when they’re asked questions about one another, that provide a great insight into the bond driving Angela Yu and Setyana Mapasa, the Australian Olympic women’s doubles badminton team.

Mapasa, 28, a Tokyo Olympian, came out of retirement to have a crack at qualifying for Paris, Yu, 21, earmarked Los Angeles as her moment to shine.

However, Yu’s plan changed following a phone call from national coach, Leanne Choo, who pinpointed the pair as being capable of providing Australia with an X-factor. After 12 months they’ve proved her right by:

• Winning their first three tournaments together
• Attaining the world No.26 ranking
• Being ranked No.10 on the prestigious HSBC circuit
• Winning the National title and Oceania crown
• Gaining selection for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

The pair showed plenty of Aussie spirit in their hard-fought loss to world No.3 ranked Japan in the opening match of their Paris Games campaign.

But when put on the spot to answer questions about one another, there were more giggles than words as the pair laughed like kookaburras at dawn.

Q & A:

Angela, what’s Setyana’s favourite song?

[Laughter] It’s . . . Sunny Day [laughs]

Setyana, what’s Angela’s top song?

[Giggles] Miss Independent.

When’s Setyana’s birthday?

[Laughs] August 25? [giggles when told it’s August 15].

When’s Angela’s birthday, Setyana?

One second [laughs as she grabs her mobile phone].

What’s Setyana’s favourite dish?

[Shrieks] The white thing from Malaysia . . .  rice cake!

Angela’s dish?

[Giggles] Steamed chicken.

Setyana’s favourite movie or TV show?

[Laughter] Cooking documentaries.

Angela’s?

KOREAN DRAMA!  [biggest burst of laughter yet].

“That’s very, very wrong!” shrieked Yu, at the ‘misinformation’, but her answer for the right genre was muffled by both of their laughter.

Yet, the hijinks don’t reflect the seriousness in which the pair compete.

In the 12 months since they were paired their ascent has been as rapid as it is stunning, their next challenge is against Korea at the Port de La Chapelle Arena.

Choo, a two-time Olympian who finished fifth in the doubles with her playing partner Renuga Veeran at the 2012 London Olympics, said the pair made compelling cases to be paired.

“Setyana made a comeback because while she’d retired after Tokyo, from talking to her it was obvious she still loved the sport,” said Choo.

“We couldn’t have someone of her quality not being included at the national level.

“Angela was playing with someone who wasn’t as complimentary – her style is very powerful; very consistent. Setyana is extremely creative on the court, and when I thought about it, I figured ‘this could be a dynamite combination’.

Her belief has been vindicated.

“It’s been reassuring to know it was a good decision,’” said Choo.

“We’re thrilled with how well they’ve done. It’s been a case of a lot of learning and growing. And there were some teething problems, but there are things you always need to work through.”

But they’re different. For instance, while Yu says she’s surprised by how fast they’ve gelled, Mapasa isn’t. If there’s something they do agree upon, it’s they’ll fight for one another.

“Something in our favour is we solve any problems,” said Yu. “We can get frustrated with one another, and that’s because the partnership is evolving. We’re learning things about ourselves– and that can be hard for the other person.

“But we work hard; support one another, play for each other. If things aren’t working, we help each other.”

That’s a view Mapasa endorsed.

“I can play my best because I know Angela will cover me,” she said. “I know she has my back, I have hers – always.”

Choo, said her main message to the pair as they prepare for their next match, is remember that they are the underdogs and to frame pressure differently in their minds.

“If you ask yourself where pressure come from, you’ll most likely say it’s from the expectations of others or outcomes,” she said.

“You can’t control what anyone expects from you or the outcome, only you can control what you expect of yourself. Only you hold that power. Control what you can control and that is always giving your 100 percent.”