The XXXIV YONEX Pan Am Junior Championships 2026 concluded in João Pessoa, Brazil, after five days of exciting competition from July 22–26, bringing together the region’s best young badminton players across the U13, U15, U17, and U19 age categories.
Athletes representing 12 Member Associations competed for continental titles, showcasing the depth of junior badminton throughout the Americas. By the end of the tournament, the United States topped the medal table with an impressive 15 gold medals, followed by Canada with five titles. Brazil, Peru, and Paraguay also celebrated podium finishes throughout the week.
Medal Table
| COUNTRY | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL |
| USA | 15 | 10 | 20 | 45 |
| CAN | 5 | 6 | 13 | 24 |
| BRA | – | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| PER | – | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| PAR | – | – | 1 | 1 |
U19 Showcases the Region’s Future Stars
The oldest junior category once again demonstrated the bright future of Pan American badminton. The United States claimed four of the five U19 titles, while Canada secured the remaining gold medal.
Among the standout performers was Micah Cruz (USA), who captured both the Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles titles alongside Sydney Li, completing both events without dropping a single game. On the men’s side, Rithik Rasamsetti (USA) also enjoyed a remarkable tournament, winning the Men’s Singles title before teaming up with Noah Chien to claim gold in Men’s Doubles. The Mixed Doubles crown went to Ryan Huang and Jasmine Zhang (CAN), completing the U19 events.
Balanced Competition in U17
The U17 category featured a more balanced distribution of titles between the continent’s two leading badminton nations.
Canada excelled in the women’s events through Emily Luo, who won both Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles, while Rosey Yin added another title in Mixed Doubles after also capturing gold in Women’s Doubles. The United States, meanwhile, led the men’s competitions, highlighting the depth of talent emerging from both countries.
USA Sweeps the Youngest Divisions
The United States continued its dominance in the U15 and U13 events, winning every title except the U15 Men’s Singles event.
One of the tournament’s brightest young stars was Alice Meng (USA), who earned two gold medals after winning the U15 Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles events, underlining her potential as one of the region’s most promising junior athletes.
The championships once again demonstrated the strength of junior badminton across the Americas, with hundreds of young athletes gaining valuable international experience while competing at the highest continental level.
Badminton Pan Am congratulates all participating players, coaches, and Member Associations for another successful edition of the Pan Am Junior Championships and looks forward to following the continued development of these young athletes as they progress toward the international stage.
