Rarotonga based players Lana Aperau-Toa, Edon Teraitua, Te Pa Tupa and Tereapii Akavi will be competing in the New Zealand Junior Teams Championships in Palmerston North.

Badminton Cook Islands president Thomas Ngauru said they will be joined by New Zealand based players Kaiyin Mataio, Zarrian Heather-Rau and Augustine Teraitua who will all be representing Counties Manuaku at the biggest Junior Team competition of the year.

Meanwhile, on the Social Elite Five Week Challenge, Ngauru said the competition was a huge success. 

He said the Thunderbolts were unbeaten throughout their match.

“A big thank you to all the teams who participated.The level this year was very high especially amongst our social players with special mention to the Vodafone Thunderbolts who came into the finals unbeaten but were able to seal the deal in the final rounds.”

He said young Setephano Vakatini pulled off the performance of the evening or for the competition even pushing veteran Eric Gamez in the Elite Singles. 

He added that tension was definitely high and some were even sad that it has been the last night of competition.

Winners from 1st Placing TAU Power, Runner-Up Just Whack It, 3rd Placing Sobat Santuy

4th Vodafone Thunderbolts, 5th We are BCI, 6th Team Victor, 7th Team Peneneke, 8th Kia Orana Villas, 9th BSP Smashers, 10th Unicorn Gang, 11th 4XC BOIZ, 12th Make-Up, 13th Rukz Racketz, 14th Hubba Hubba, 15th Underdogs, 16th AirNZ.