Badminton Express Auckland Badminton Open 2026 Breakout Performances

The Badminton Express Auckland Open 2026 delivered an exciting weekend of high-quality badminton, with players from across New Zealand competing for titles in five fiercely contested events: Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.

The tournament showcased a strong mix of experienced athletes and emerging talent, producing several thrilling matches and outstanding performances throughout the weekend. Auckland Badminton extends its sincere thanks to all players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and supporters who contributed to the success of the event.

Finals Recap

Men's Singles Final

Chris Benzie def. Raphael Chris Deloy 21-8, 21-15

Chris Benzie produced a commanding performance in the Men's Singles final, controlling the rallies from the outset and maintaining consistent pressure throughout the match. Remarkably, Benzie did not drop a set throughout the entire tournament, and no opponent was able to push him beyond 16 points in a single game. His consistency, discipline, and ability to raise his level when needed made him a deserving champion.

Women's Singles Final

Amy Wang def. Courtney Trillo 21-15, 21-15

One of the standout stories of the tournament was the performance of 15-year-old Amy Wang, who captured the Women's Singles title with a series of impressive displays against experienced senior opposition. Wang entered the tournament in excellent form and never looked troubled throughout the weekend.

In the semifinal, Wang faced Yanxi Liu, a player who had previously been one of her toughest opponents. Despite the challenge, Wang delivered a composed and mature performance to win 21-15, 21-15. She then backed it up in the final against Courtney Trillo, once again winning 21-15, 21-15 to secure the title. The manner of both wins highlighted just how composed and confident Amy already is on the senior stage, and her title run was one of the defining performances of the tournament.

Men's Doubles Final

Raphael Chris Deloy & Cheong Minhao def. Chris Benzie & Dylan Soedjasa 21-19, 7-21, 21-19

One of the matches of the tournament saw Deloy and Cheong edge out Benzie and Soedjasa in a dramatic three-game encounter. The result was particularly impressive given that this was Cheong Minhao’s first year competing in Open tournaments, while Raphael Chris Deloy continues to work his way back following recovery from injury. Their ability to combine so effectively and come through such a tight contest was a standout achievement, and a sign of the quality and resilience both players brought to the event.

Women's Doubles Final

Laura Lin & Jenny Zhu def. Yanxi Liu & Natalie Ting 9-21, 21-11, 21-16

The Women’s Doubles title was one of the standout stories of the tournament, with Laura Lin and Jenny Zhu claiming the championship in their first Open tournament together as a partnership. Their path to the title was anything but straightforward, showing tremendous resilience throughout the knockout stages.

Remarkably, Lin and Zhu were taken to three games in their quarterfinal, semifinal, and final, losing the opening game in all three matches before fighting back to win. Their ability to reset after slow starts, adapt tactically, and maintain belief under pressure was a defining feature of their tournament.

The final followed a familiar pattern, with Yanxi Liu and Natalie Ting taking the opening game 21-9. However, Lin and Zhu once again responded strongly, lifting their intensity and taking control of the rallies to win the next two games 21-11 and 21-16. Their impressive comeback completed a memorable tournament victory and showed the potential of a partnership with a very bright future.

Mixed Doubles Final

Ricky Cheng & Natalie Ting def. Lezhi Zhu & Amanda Ting 22-20, 24-22

The Mixed Doubles final delivered an exciting finish to the tournament, but it was also a special family battle between sisters Amanda Ting and Natalie Ting. At just 17 years old, Natalie emerged victorious against her older sister Amanda, who is three years her senior, in a contest that highlighted both the quality and competitiveness within the Ting family.

With very little separating the pairs across both games, the final became a true fight for every point. Ricky Cheng and Natalie Ting held their nerve in the key moments to come through 22-20, 24-22, and Natalie’s win over Amanda added an extra layer of significance to an already thrilling final.

Full Podium Results

Men's Singles

1^st - Chris Benzie
2^nd - Raphael Chris Deloy
3^rd/4^th -  Bevan Cox
3^rd/4^th Tony Yu

Women's Singles

1^st - Amy Wang
2^nd - Courtney Trillo
3^rd/4^th - Josephine Zhao
3^rd/4^th - Yanxi Liu

Men's Doubles

1^st - Raphael Chris Deloy / Cheong Minhao
2^nd - Chris Benzie / Dylan Soedjasa
3^rd/4^th - Qifeng Chen / Ricky Cheng
3^rd/4^th - Samuel Navarra / Lezhi Zhu

Women's Doubles

1^st - Laura Lin / Jenny Zhu
2^nd -  Yanxi Liu / Natalie Ting
3^rd/4^th - Emmy Xu / Rebecca Zhang
3^rd/4^th - Berry Ng / Amanda Ting

Mixed Doubles

1^st - Ricky Cheng / Natalie Ting
2^nd - Lezhi Zhu / Amanda Ting
3^rd/4^th - Raphael Chris Deloy / Yanxi Liu
3^rd/4^th - Cheong Minhao / Josephine Zhao

Auckland Badminton congratulates all medalists and participants on an excellent tournament. The standard of play throughout the weekend was outstanding, reflecting the continued growth and strength of badminton across New Zealand. The performances of the junior players competing in this senior tournament were especially encouraging, and their success points to a very bright future for badminton in New Zealand.

We look forward to welcoming players back for future events and building on another successful edition of the Badminton Express Auckland Badminton Open.