A RECORD 261 young badminton players from 22 primary schools are making history this week as Badminton Fiji hosts the country’s first-ever National Primary Schools Badminton Tournament at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva.
The three-day tournament, which began yesterday and ends tomorrow, has attracted players from Suva, Nadi, Lautoka, Navunikabi in the Namosi Highlands and Nabouwalu in Bua.
Girls make up 49 per cent of the field, highlighting the sport’s growing participation and focus on gender inclusion.
The tournament is the first national competitive pathway for primary school players aged 11 to 13 and under, building on the Fiji Secondary Schools Tournament, which has been running for 29 years.
It is also the largest badminton tournament staged in Fiji, with participation rising from 105 players at the 2025 Secondary Schools Tournament to 168 in May this year before reaching 261 at this week’s primary schools event.
Competition is divided into Teams and Individuals sections, with schools competing in a five-match format of doubles, singles, doubles, singles and doubles to determine the best school teams.
The under-13 and U11 players will also compete in elimination and consolation draws for individual honours.
The tournament forms part of Badminton Fiji’s wider player-development pathway.
Through a partnership with the Zespri AIMS Games in Tauranga, New Zealand, two standout primary school players will travel to compete at the 2026 AIMS Games shortly after the tournament.
Badminton Fiji will also select its first-ever Fiji U15 national squad following the competition.
The squad will comprise 25 girls and 25 boys selected from leading performers in the Secondary Schools U15 and Primary Schools U13 and U11 divisions.
The selected players will undergo a one-year elite training programme as Badminton Fiji works to develop a sustainable pathway into its U17 and U19 national squads.
The long-term objective is to build a core group of players capable of contributing to Fiji’s high-performance programme and targeting podium success at the 2031 Pacific Games in Tonga.
The tournament is supported by a Badminton World Federation grant and sponsorship from SportsWorld, CKs Mega Bargain, Damodar Cinemas, GEM Fiji Ltd and Punjas Fiji.
