Skill and excitement on show in Gisborne BIZminton’s first night

The 2026 BIZminton mercantile league got off to a great start.

The future of badminton in Gisborne looks secure after a first night of BIZminton play featuring plenty of skill and excitement.

In the competitive grade, Thompson’s Teletubbies beat Go Extra Mile on countback after a 3-3 draw. Points won favoured Teletubbies 160 to 137.

The more experienced RSL51 team beat the U19s 4-2. A particularly close game was a junior doubles combo’s 20-19 victory over an over-50s pairing.

In the social grade, new team Net Ninjas defeated Slammers 4-2, although both teams scored the same number of points.

To organisers’ delight, two more teams have joined the competition for the second week.

Results from the opening night last Thursday: Net Ninjas defeated Slammers 4-2 (points score 146-146); Smashers def Shuttle Squad 4-2; Sorting It Out def Chaos on the Court 6-0; RSL51s def U19s 4-2; Thompson’s Teletubbies def Go Extra Mile, 3-3, on countback 160 points to 137.

Draw for second night, on Thursday – 6pm: Court 1, Chaos on the Court v Smashers; C2, Good Question v Net Ninjas; C4, Slammers v Shuttle Squad.

7.15pm: C1, RSL51s v Sorting It Out; C2, Go Extra Mile v Extra Comp; C4, U19s v Thompson’s Teletubbies.

Duty team (to sweep courts and tidy upstairs at the end of the night): Thompson’s Teletubbies.

Inquiries to Linda White.