ABA is planning a performance and development camp for a small group of representative players who to go to China December 2025 led by Coaches Li Feng and Zeck Li.  

ABA is committed as part of our Strategic Plan to improve our Sport Capability by strengthening the badminton delivery system to improve quality at all levels for players, coaches, officials, volunteers and administrators.

• Nurture and develop players to achieve Badminton NZ team representation.
• Sustained success through representative programs being the top performing Association across competitions/Tournaments including Wisden, NZJTC, and Inter Association.
• Create sustainable pathways for Coaches to develop and to be offered opportunities with Badminton NZ teams and squads.

The opportunity for members of this squad to travel to China and train in a high-performance international environment we believe will further our collective goals.

Preparation: Participants from our previous camp expressed a desire to work on fitness more in advance and ensure good rest before the camp due to its tiring nature. Without a solid fitness base, which can be developed before the camp, players found it challenging to manage the training intensity initially.

Prior to you being approved to go on this camp, you must complete fitness testing to provide a benchmark to build your fitness from. You will be expected to commit to training to attain minimum physical standards to ensure you gain the most from this camp.

Where: Wuhan, China

Dates: 2025

​​​​​​​ABA is offering a small number of Sponsorships of $1,000 USD (estimated $1,665 NZD) towards this camp.  This scholarship is only available to those ABA players 15 years and older that either already have represented NZ or have potential to represent NZ.  Players who do not secure a scholarship are still eligible for the Performance Camp.

Program Overview:

Monday to Saturday: High level intensive technical, tactical and physical training, morning to night, as an immersive experience in the Chinese Regional Olympic Development Program. The program is based within the Wuhan Regional Olympic Village, a world-class sports facility accommodating thousands of athletes from various sports, including badminton, tennis, basketball, table tennis, and gymnastics.

The ABA players will be welcomed into this environment, with coaches treating them as their own. The players beginning each week with a Flag Raising Ceremony at 6 am on Monday morning, followed by training, playing, eating, and sleeping alongside the best badminton players in Wuhan. This experience provides our players with insights beyond badminton, allowing them to understand the culture and similarities and differences in lifestyle compared to the Wuhan players. Additionally, the group explored Wuhan, visiting markets, temples, museums, and even experiencing the local pool-playing culture with the local Badminton players.

Investment: 

• Single Player 15 or Older: $2,600 USD (estimated $4,328 NZD) per player excluding airfares
• Under 15 Player plus Guardian: $4,000 USD (estimated $6,274 NZD) for player and guardian excluding airfares​​​​​​​

NOTE: ABA will accept players between 11 and 14 years old, with a guardian accompanying the player to ensure they are cared for outside of training.  The player and Guardian will share a room, and the Guardian will have all meals catered for.  

PREVIOUS TRIP

"Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I really value the opportunity. I learned a lot about what it means to be an athlete, and I have gained a new perspective on life. It was actually life-changing for me, and to have this opportunity even at my age, means a lot."

"Throughout this trip, I can see the difference in ability between NZ and China badminton. It was a nice experience, and I had a lot of fun. I also learned a lot of different things."

"Overall, a very enjoyable experience with a good mixture of physical and on-court sessions. The Chinese players often interacted with us, which made us feel included (team chants before session starts), which helped me focus on training."