Cameroon claim bronze as India dominate upgraded Yaounde badminton event

Cameroon secured a bronze medal at the seventh Challenge des Internationaux de Badminton, while India emerged as the dominant nation at an event staged from 3 to 6 September 2026 at the Palais Polyvalent des Sports de Yaounde.

The tournament was held in Cameroon for the seventh time and, for the first time, was recognised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as a Grade 3 event. That promotion marked a significant step forward for the competition and helped attract players from 25 countries across all five continents.

The upgraded status also raised the standard on court, with the tournament becoming one of the major events on the continental badminton calendar. The Palais Polyvalent des Sports de Yaounde, also known as PAPOSY, hosted four days of competition featuring powerful smashes, sharply executed returns and fast-paced rallies.

The finals on 6 September produced an Indian-heavy conclusion, with representatives from the badminton powerhouse reaching almost every title match.

India had two players in the women’s doubles final, where Selvam and Singhi defeated fellow Indians Rutaparna Panda and Swetaparna Panda 21-10, 21-16 to take gold.

There was another all-Indian contest in the men’s singles final. Gnana Hmar Lalthazuala beat compatriot Tankara in a closely fought match, recovering from a second-game defeat to win 21-13, 12-21, 23-21.

The women’s singles title went to Bharath, who competes for the United Arab Emirates. She defeated Azerbaijan’s Keisha Fatimah 21-16, 21-19.

Thailand claimed the men’s doubles crown through Madee and Pongsakorn, who overcame India’s Sai and Ruban in three games. The Thai pair won 21-19, 15-21, 21-16.

India’s Rawat and Maneesha completed the country’s strong showing by winning the mixed doubles final. They beat Algeria’s Koceila and Tanina 23-21, 21-17.

Cameroon’s medal came in the mixed doubles, where Paul Christ Assembe Voundi and Maeva Princia Gertrude Anamba reached the semi-finals. Their run ended against the Algerian pair, who won 21-12, 21-7, but the result was enough to give the host nation a valuable bronze.

The seventh edition was also praised for its organisation and has already created momentum for a planned eighth staging, with organisers targeting further progress for the competition.

Badminton is played between two competitors in singles or four players in doubles on a rectangular court divided by a net measuring 1.55 metres high. Players score one point for every rally, with matches decided by the first player or pair to win two games.

Each game is played to 21 points. Serves are delivered diagonally and below waist height, while the shuttlecock must not touch the ground during play. The sport combines smashes, drop shots, clears and drives, and is widely regarded as the fastest racket sport in the world, with the shuttlecock capable of travelling at more than 400 km/h.