No. 10 CNMI hosts first Olympic qualifiers in badminton
The CNMI hosted for the first time two badminton Olympic qualifiers—the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2023 and the TakeCare Saipan International 2023—at the newly renovated Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last June.
The two-week qualifiers welcomed more than 200 players, coaches, and officials from 19 different countries, and according to Badminton Oceania president Loke Poh Wong, the Northern Marianas Badminton Association has put the CNMI on the world map for badminton.
Badminton Oceania gave the host NMBA a certificate of appreciation for the success of hosting the two qualifiers at the conclusion of the tourney.
The Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2023 was the first tournament that was held from June 6 to 11. Chinese-Taipei swept three events, while South Korea took home two championships.
The TakeCare Saipan International 2023 was from June 13 to June 18, with Chinese-Taipei and Japan taking home two championships, while USA won one.
NMI badminton athletes also competed in the qualifiers which included internationally ranked players from around the world.
Top seed Guatemalan Kevin Cordon goes for a return during the TakeCare Saipan International 2023 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last June.
-LEIGH GASES
Left Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki, left, took first place, while South Korea’s Ga Ram Kim was second after an epic three-set showdown in the women’s singles finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics badminton qualifier—the TakeCare Saipan International 2023—at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last June.
-LEIGH GASES
