This past weekend, Victoria's finest junior badminton players showcased their talents at the eagerly awaited Junior Team Championships, competing in U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17, and U-19 categories. 

These championships are vital for our community, offering junior programs a platform to create teams and compete, thus nurturing team culture from the grassroots to the state level. 

Among the standout performers were Geelong’s own rising stars. Sophie Ng, representing the Geelong Badminton Academy and the Victorian Country Team, continued her stellar run by capturing a bronze medal in the U-19 category. This achievement follows her impressive streak of five gold medals in Junior Classics tournaments. She competed as part of the Country VIC TAS team, a collaborative initiative between Badminton Tasmania (BT) and Badminton Victoria (BV). 

Andrea Wong, also from Geelong and a member of the Victorian Country Team, competed in the U-13 category. While she did not bring home a medal, Andrea appreciated the competitive exposure, saying, "It was fun. I’m happy to play. It was a bit hard but again it was fun." Her participation highlights the depth of talent in Geelong and the promising future of young athletes from the region. 

Clint Proctor, CEO of Badminton Victoria, commended the Victorian Country Team’s performance, stating, “It was fantastic to witness everyone from around regional Victoria, including Geelong, come together and compete at the State Junior Teams, we are incredibly proud of all the players commitment to the sport and high performance.” 

The Junior Team Championships not only spotlight the achievements of Victoria’s top junior players but also underscore the growing prominence of the Victorian Country Team, with Geelong’s young athletes playing a pivotal role in raising the team’s national profile.