University of Auckland Extends Unbeaten Legacy at National Tertiary Badminton Championships

The 2026 National Tertiary Badminton Championships and Tertiary Badminton Cup delivered an unforgettable weekend of competition, connection and campus pride at Waikato Badminton Hall in Hamilton on 9–10 May.

Student-athletes from across Aotearoa brought energy, intensity and incredible sportsmanship to the courts, creating an atmosphere that perfectly captured the spirit of tertiary sport. Whether competing for championship honours or battling it out in the Cup division, every team contributed to a weekend filled with camaraderie, passion and plenty of memorable moments.

After two days of high-quality badminton, the University of Auckland emerged as the 2026 National Tertiary Badminton Champions, claiming the title ahead of a strong University of Canterbury side and Auckland University of Technology.

A special feature of this year’s event was the inclusion of the Hamilton Schools Select Invitational team, made up of talented secondary school athletes from across the Waikato region. The side more than held their own in the championship field, showcasing the exciting depth of emerging badminton talent in Aotearoa.

As highlighted in the lead-in to the event, the championships promised emerging talent, fierce rivalries and a unique festival atmosphere  and the weekend certainly delivered. From tense deciding matches to courtside celebrations and team chants echoing throughout the venue, the event reflected everything that makes tertiary sport so special.

The Tertiary Badminton Cup once again proved to be one of the most enjoyable and inclusive events on the UTSNZ calendar. Teams made up of friends, clubmates and social competitors embraced the opportunity to represent their institutions, with the competition delivering just as much intensity, laughter and support as the championship division.

UTSNZ also acknowledges the fantastic work of volunteers, officials, Badminton Waikato and all team managers who helped create a seamless and welcoming tournament environment across the weekend.

Championship Standings

1. University of Auckland
2. University of Canterbury
3. Auckland University of Technology
4. University of Waikato
5. Hamilton Schools Select
6. Victoria University of Wellington
7. University of Otago
8. Massey University

Championship Tournament Team

• Cici Guo (Auckland University of Technology)
• Josie Lee (Hamilton Schools Select)
• Amanda Ting (University of Auckland)
• Aravind Chandran (University of Canterbury)
• Michael Zhang (Hamilton Schools Select)
• Lezhi Zhu (University of Auckland)

Championship Spirit Award

• University of Otago

Tertiary Badminton Cup Standings

1. Mum Savers
2. Shumsters
3. Sensational Chicken
4. Otago Burdie Bashers
5. Midcourt Crisis
6. J4W
7. Right Idea
8. Baddies

Cup Tournament Team

• Lola Gibbs (Shumsters)
• Julie Luong (J4W)
• Pei Xin Choy (Midcourt Crisis)
• David Wu (Shumsters)
• Samuel Navarra (Mum Savers)
• Benjamin Louie (Otago Burdie Bashers)

Cup Spirit Award

• Otago Burdie Bashers

A huge thank you also goes to photographer Peter Foxall, whose outstanding images captured the intensity, emotion and fun of the championships throughout the weekend.

Photos from the event can be downloaded here: foxallphotography.pixieset.com

UTSNZ thanks all athletes, managers, supporters and officials for contributing to another outstanding National Tertiary Badminton Championships weekend. The energy inside Waikato Badminton Hall across both the Championship and Cup competitions showed once again why tertiary badminton continues to thrive in New Zealand.