Badminton was the nice surprise of the Samoa Games in 2019, with eight medals, including three gold for Rémi Rossi alone. In Saipan where the competition will be held from June 20 to 25, 12 Tahitian badminton players selected will try to do better. The latter will be all the more motivated because they will not be part of the Games in the Solomon Islands in 2023 and will return to the program of the Pacific Games only in 2027 in Tahiti. “Badistas go to Saipan to win as many gold medals as possible. These Mini-Games will be the only opportunity for them to shine in the Pacific before returning in 2027”, attests the president of the COPF, Louis Provost.
And it is a Polynesian selection, a mix of experienced and young players, who will present themselves on the grounds of the Gilbert C.Ada hall. We will obviously find the leader of the team, Rémi Rossi, 26, still progressing. Last October, he signed a historic success for Tahitian badminton at the Thomas Cup, the world team championships, beating the Dutchman, Robin Mesman. Rossi, who won gold in men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles, will be particularly awaited. “I want to take full advantage of the event because it’s not every day that you do the Games,” said Rossi. “My goal is to win at least four gold medals. And I wish for our delegation six gold medals to fulfill the contract.” With him, Quentin Bernaix, Kiliam Scilloux, Glen Le Foll and the young Elias Maublanc constitute a solid men’s team.
On the women’s side now. The Tahiti team will be deprived of one of its best elements, with the absence of Coralie Bouttin, triple medalist in Samoa (gold in mixed doubles with Rossi, silver in singles and bronze in women’s doubles with Esther Tau). A place of leadership that will seek to fill the young hope, Mélissa Mi You, 18 years old. Already present at the Samoa Games in 2019 and also experienced at Oceania, her goal is also to “win as many medals as possible.”
