Tahiti earned a rare team victory as they beat Iceland 3-2 in a tie for team placings at the BWF World Junior Championships 2022.
While the contest was for the relatively minor placings between 33 to 38, the thrill of victory was evident for the team from Oceania. Heirautea Curet, who delivered two points for Tahiti, sported a broad smile. Curet had prevailed in a close women’s singles match, 21-19 in the third game, to make it 2-0 for Tahiti, and then returned to win the women’s doubles with Maeva Gaillard to ensure the winning point for her team.
“We’re very happy, this is our first one,” said Curet. “This is the first time we’re playing together, and to win a match at the World Championships is crazy. Some of us had come from France, and others from Tahiti. We three girls came from France but we haven’t played together for a year or more. We started playing three or four days before the competition, but it’s good to play together. We had the same objective.”
Heirautea Curet (left) and Maeva Gaillard.
Tahiti were close to taking the tie 3-0, with Kaihei Teiefitu locked in a tense men’s singles battle with Gabriel Ingi Helgason. Teiefitu was within a point of his opponent at the end but a misjudged shuttle cost him the match.
Teifitu had given up badminton for a year as he chose body building, but decided to return to the sport and said he hadn’t missed a day since.
“I played every day as I didn’t want to miss coming here,” Teiefitu said. “I’m happy that we managed to win our first tie. It’s rare for us.”
Highlights
♦ In the placings for positions 9 to 16, Canada proved tenacious opponents for Malaysia. The Canadians twice levelled deficits, before Malaysia’s mixed doubles duo Choi Jian Sheng/Lai Ting Cen beat Josh Nguyen/Chloe Hoang 21-15 21-12 to win the tie.
♦ Ukraine were combative against Denmark. After Denmark won the first three matches, Polina Buhrova struck for Ukraine. Denmark were taken the distance in their last match, with Maria Hojund Tommerup/Kathrine Wang edging Varvara Frolova/Sofiia Lavrova 22-20 in the third.
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