Physical conditioning dictated the opening day of the YONEX Bendigo International 2026, where stamina proved as decisive as shot-making across the singles and doubles draws.
Ken Richardson Controls Chung Li Eric Choo in Straight Games
Ken Richardson set an immediate physical tone in the men’s singles bracket by defeating Malaysia’s Chung Li Eric Choo 21-13, 21-8. The victory showcased a tactical shift for Richardson, who carried momentum over from his recent campaign at the North Harbour tournament. Badminton Oceania noted that the winner attributed his form to thorough preparation and mental resolve regarding his physical capacity. Having confidence in myself, especially when it comes to my physical fitness,
Richardson said after the match, emphasizing the role of routine training in letting results follow naturally. Looking ahead after his previous week’s loss, Richardson intends to increase his match tempo rather than simply absorbing an opponent’s pace.
Ephraim Stephen Sam Fights Back Against Rafael Gavois
Stamina took center stage on adjacent courts as Australia’s Ephraim Stephen Sam overturned a first-game deficit to defeat France’s Rafael Gavois 10-21, 21-19, 21-15. Stephen Sam admitted his confidence dipped heavily during the opening game, prompting an intentional shift in self-talk to keep himself mentally engaged despite the scoreline. I tried to tell myself in my head, ‘Come on, you can do it, even if you’re down,’
he recounted. That mental reset allowed him to play more freely in the second game before his opponent faded physically in the decider. Stephen Sam noted that his rigorous conditioning focus for this month’s Oceania swing directly addressed past vulnerabilities where fatigue typically set in around the 15-point mark.
Australian Contingent Advances Alongside Trans-Tasman Contenders
Four additional Australian singles players booked their places in the round of 32: Shrey Dhand, Ricky Tang, Karono Karono, and Muhammad Rafi Zefran Ferary. Dhand enters the tournament carrying the credentials of reigning Oceania men’s singles champion alongside his junior crown from the previous year, while he and Tang both bring Sudirman Cup experience to the draw. Meanwhile, the mixed doubles competition brought mixed fortunes for the host nation. Formidable Australian pairing Jack Yu and Angela Yu exited the tournament following a 21-14, 21-15 defeat against Chinese Taipei’s Lu Chen and Yun Jung Chang. New Zealand representatives Daniel McMillan and Camellia Zhou advanced safely, and sibling pair Kai Chen Teoh and Bernice Teoh eliminated New Zealand’s Dylan Soedjasa and Jenny Zhu 21-19, 21-12. The trans-Tasman duo of Raphael Deloy and Sydney Tjonadi also secured their progression into the round of 16.
Round of 32 Matches at Bendigo
Competitors advancing from the opening sessions return to the Bendigo venue courts for the round of 32 fixtures, where physical recovery between matches will dictate who survives the next tier of the international draw.
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