Leila Chung and Jansu Du have triumphed in the Fiji A-grade Women’s Doubles title at the Badminton Nationals, held at the Yet Sen Secondary School Hall in Flagstaff. Their victory not only showcases their exceptional skill and teamwork but also highlights a bright future for badminton in Fiji.
Chung, a recent Year 12 graduate from Yat Sen Secondary School, has accumulated six to seven years of experience, while her partner Du, a 15-year-old in Year 10, brings two to three years of competitive play to the court. During the tense final match, both players displayed remarkable resilience. Chung reflected on their performance, sharing, “The finals were really overwhelming. My partner and I felt pressured at times, but we just kept telling each other to focus on the rally and take it one point at a time.”
This focused mindset proved instrumental during a fiercely contested second set, where they successfully rallied against their opponents. Chung expressed joy at their progress, stating, “When we caught up in the second set, we felt very glad and then we gave it our all in our third set.”
Du recounted a critical moment in the match when they saved multiple game points, which ultimately led to their success. “It was really exciting, especially in the second set. It was game point for them, and we saved like 4 to 5 game points,” she said. Both players acknowledged that trust played a foundational role in their partnership, with Du emphasizing, “One thing that we’ve learned is trust between ourselves and our partners more than the skills that we showed on court.”
Looking ahead, Chung has her sights set on competing in the 2026 Oceania Competition and the 2027 Tahiti Pacific Games, aspiring to foster the growth of badminton in Fiji. Du also dreams of representing Fiji on the international badminton stage. Chung expressed optimism regarding their partnership’s potential: “I think it can. We’ll just see what 2026 brings us. But I’m pretty sure, yes.”
Chung’s accomplishments extend beyond doubles as she also clinched the Women’s singles title at the nationals, establishing her as a key figure in the sport within Fiji. Their successes are not only a testament to their talent but also serve as an inspiration for a new generation of badminton enthusiasts in the region.