Top-tier 2023 for NMBA

The Northern Marianas Badminton Association had a top-tier 2023 as they rated their year high with a nine on a scale of 1-10.

“We made many accomplishments in 2023 and still have room for improvement and strive for more goals for 2024 and beyond,” said NMBA president Merlie Tolentino.

The highlight of their year was hosting a Badminton World Federation-ranking tournament—not just one, but two International Challenge tournaments (Grade 3 level)—that also doubled as qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. With that, according to NMBA, NMI is the first nation to host back-to-back International Challenges.

Each tournament—the TakeCare Saipan International 2023 and the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan Northern Marianas Open 2023 that was held last June—welcomed 170 players from 29 countries, and about 30 officials.

“Players and officials stayed on Saipan for nearly two weeks—a great support to our sports tourism campaign. Our local crowd witnessed world-class games, featuring former and current Olympians, plus promising junior players. Our local players got to experience how it felt like to play in a world-ranking tournament. To top it all, we have lots of positive feedback from our visiting players and teams and that, plus our ability to host international events made Badminton World Federation award us hosting rights for another pair of International Challenge tournaments in July 2024,” said Tolentino.

Other milestones NMBA accomplished in 2023 was sending the first NM junior team to Pacific U15 Junior Team Challenge held in New Zealand last February; NMI senior players competed for the first time in the VICTOR Oceania Championships 2023 in New Zealand also last February; saw an 81% growth in student participation to the interscholastic badminton league (high school and middle school division combined). According to NMBA, it has the highest percentage among the seven programs offered under the CNMI Public School System Athletic Department (covering both public and private schools).

Furthermore, it sent its first coach, Janelle Pangilinan, to the Badminton World Federation Female Coach Mentoring Program in Denmark last August; and saw the appointment of NMBA general secretary Christy Villaflor as line judge in the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2024. Those two are major tournaments and the most prestigious tournament in the world, according to NMBA. The Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2024 will be held in Chengdu, China from April 28 to May 5.

As for their 2024 sports calendar, they will start the year off with the TakeCare Interscholastic Badminton League (high school division) in February. Also in February, they will send a team down to Australia for the Pacific U15 Junior Team Challenge; from July 1-7 is week one International Challenge (BWF Grade 3 Tournament), and from July 8 to 14 is week two of the International Challenge.

NMBA is working on having local tournaments before the BWF events to prepare local players for the International Challenge. They will also host “Shuttle Time,” which is a series of outreach programs for schools; and will also continue to hold tutor courses for individuals interested in becoming coaches which is in partnership with Badminton Oceania and Badminton World Federation.

NMBA thanks all their valued sponsors/partners “for providing us the support that we need to continue our various programs and to host two international events.”

“Thank you to the CNMI Public School System leadership and all the schools that participated in our programs. Thank you to the PSS Athletic Department, Northern Marianas Sports Association, Badminton Oceania, Badminton World Federation, and all the sponsors of the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open and TakeCare Saipan International.”

They also thanked NMI middle school and high school players for taking an interest in badminton. “We have high hopes for them, as we are looking at our future national players and coaches. The best way to grow our program is to strengthen our grassroots and the schools and their students are the best foundation for the grassroots program,” said Tolentino. “Thank you to the parents, principals, and teachers for supporting your children/students and allowing them to play badminton,” she added.

Tolentino then said, NMBA, with support from Badminton Oceania, Badminton World Federation, and NMSA, “will continue to work on gaining access to resources that will help our players and coaches get better and improve their skills. We hope to provide them with more opportunities to experience high-level competitions and training.”

She said they are also seeking support from the community for the back-to-back international tournaments that NMI will be hosting this July.