Pinehurst congratulates Year 13 student Tony Yu on his performances at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where he proudly represented New Zealand in badminton on one of sport’s biggest international stages.
Selected by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), Tony earned his place in the New Zealand Youth Olympic team following outstanding performances in national competitions throughout 2025 and 2026. His selection recognised not only his exceptional badminton skills, but also the positive attitude and dedication he has consistently demonstrated in his sport.
Competing in the Men’s Singles competition, Tony faced an exceptionally challenging draw in Group A, coming up against three of Europe’s leading junior badminton players.
Among his opponents was France’s Mady Sow, the reigning European Under-19 Champion, who went on to win the Men’s Singles Gold Medal in Dakar. Tony also faced Bulgaria’s Teodor Mitev, a highly regarded European junior player, and Aleksa Radovanović, the reigning Serbian Junior National Champion.
For Tony, competing against players of this calibre was a significant opportunity, particularly given New Zealand’s distance from the major international badminton competition circuit. Each match provided valuable experience and the chance to test his skills against some of the world’s best young players.
Tony’s closest contest came in his final group match against Radovanović. Demonstrating stamina, resilience and determination, he pushed his opponent through two tightly contested games before narrowly losing 21–18, 22–20. The hard-fought match was a wonderful demonstration of Tony’s ability to compete at this level and the progress he had made throughout the tournament.
Although Tony did not advance beyond the group stage, his performances earned appreciation from spectators, fellow players and officials. His humble manner, energetic playing style and positive attitude reflected the qualities that contributed to his selection for the New Zealand team.
Representing New Zealand at the Youth Olympic Games is a remarkable achievement and an important milestone in Tony’s sporting journey. Beyond the competition results, the experience of playing against elite international opposition will be invaluable as he continues to develop his game.
Congratulations to Tony on this tremendous achievement. He has represented his country, his family and the Pinehurst community with pride, and we look forward to following his continued progress in the years ahead.
