THE courts at Yat Sen Hall will come alive this weekend as Fiji’s badminton players chase more than trophies at the China Club Fiji Open.
For emerging players, the three-day tournament presents an opportunity to test themselves against deeper competition, while established names will have to protect their standing as the country’s biggest badminton event of the year gets underway.
Much of the intrigue will centre on the C Grade, where a massive field is expected to produce some of the weekend’s toughest contests.
With players fighting for consistency, confidence and the chance to push towards the higher grades, the C Grade could become a key indicator of the sport’s growing depth.
Badminton Fiji president Abel Caine believes that growth is already evident in the numbers.
“The 2026 China Club Fiji Open has drawn an outstanding field of 206 players from across Fiji and Kiribati. The strength of our C Grade — half of all entries — shows that badminton’s grassroots development is thriving,” Caine said.
The C Grade has 145 entries, including 47 players in the men’s singles, making it the largest draw of the tournament.
That depth will be tested across the weekend, with players required to manage the demands of repeated matches while maintaining their composure when the pressure rises.
The A Grade will provide a different challenge, bringing together 48 unique players across 71 entries in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
The men’s singles features 14 players, while eight will contest the women’s singles.
B Grade adds another competitive layer with 41 unique players and 54 entries, including 20 men’s singles competitors and six mixed doubles pairs.
