General | 2/5/2025 8:00:00 AM
The best and brightest in OUA badminton will descend upon York University for the 2025 OUA Badminton Championships from February 7-9 at Tait McKenzie Centre.
The host York Lions, defending champion Toronto Varsity Blues, Guelph Gryphons, McMaster Marauders, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, Ottawa Gee-Gees, TMU Bold, Western Mustangs and Waterloo Warriors will all be vying for an OUA banner.
The host Lions enter the championship off a third-place finish in last year’s event. They will be looking for their second championship in three years. Two-time Olympian Brian Yang, an OUA rookie will headline the York men, while Sophia Nong will lead the Lions women’s side. Yang is currently ranked 33rd in the world by the Badminton World Federation. Nong, a veteran of two OUA championships, is a Pan-Am Junior champion.
Meanwhile, the 2023 OUA champs from Toronto look to continue their run of dominance at the championship and earn their eighth title in the last nine years (excluding the cancelled 2020 event), and 11th overall. Defending OUA rookie of the year Jackie Dent and veteran Jacqueline Cheung, a former rookie of the year at Western and three-time OUA all-star will be the players to watch for the Blues. They have a revitalized men’s roster and strong nucleus of returning women’s players that should help them compete for another championship.
Up the street, the TMU Bold are back after finishing seventh last year. The Bold are bolstered by rookie Enoch Song and second-year Genevieve Ti. Song has been a strong leader even in his first year, while showing a high degree of skill and a poise beyond his years. Ti has displayed an incredible work ethic, constantly working to improve her game all season long, making those around her better while maintaining a positive approach to the game.
“We’re ready to give it our all and make this OUA championship our moment to shine – with high energy, determination, and a united team spirit,” head coach Elena Ng told the OUA prior to the tournament.”
Meanwhile, up the QEW will come the McMaster Marauders, who rounded out the top five in 2024. Natalie Yee of Vancouver, B.C., a former national and provincial player, headlines the Marauder roster. The third-year and two-time OUA championship participant is coming off a season where she was named club MVP at McMaster and ranked second in the country in girl’s singles. On the men’s side, Victor Zhan will be the player to watch for the maroon and white. He is in his second year of eligibility and has been the glue that has held the team together, maintaining a positive team atmosphere throughout the year.
Two-time defending silver medalists and 2024 national champions, the Waterloo Warriors, will look to be one spot better this time around as they aim for their 10th OUA title (fifth since the joint league begin in 1997) and first in a decade. They’ll be led by two players at opposite ends of the spectrum. On the men’s side, first-year Michael Ji. He will look to make his mark on the OUA in his first championship appearence. Meanwhile, fifth-year Maggie Wong, who has seen a thing or two, is back for a sixth championship looking for her first gold medal.
Last but not least, the Western Mustangs will try to make the podium after narrowly missing it with a fourth-place finish in 2024. In search of their first title since 2014, it’s a pair of Markham natives making a homecoming of sorts who will be relied upon to life the Mustangs to a medal. They’ll look for Jasper Tang to pick up right where he left off last season, when he dropped only two matches during the championship. On the women’s side, Katy Wong will compete in her second championship and will be a key cog if Western is to put its best foot forward and earn a medal.
The 2025 OUA Badminton Championship begins Friday, Feb. 7 at 9:00 am from the Tait McKenzie Centre, located at 1 Thompson Road, North York, Ont., M3J 1P3. For more information on the championship, including schedules and results, click here. If you’re visiting York for the championships, please view York’s Directions and Parking page by clicking here. Admission is FREE.