Nanchang, China, will soon host the world’s top junior badminton players for the YONEX BWF World Junior Championships 2024, and among them will be Hawkes Bay’s own Lezhi Zhu. For Lezhi, this prestigious tournament represents the culmination of years of dedication, sacrifice, and the pursuit of excellence.

Lezhi will proudly represent New Zealand in both the Mixed Team Championships (Suhandinata Cup) from 30 September to 5 October, and the Individual Championships (Eye-Level Cup) from 7 to 13 October. Competing on this global stage is a monumental opportunity for Lezhi, one he’s worked tirelessly to earn. His journey is not just about hard training, but also about passion, perseverance, and a community rallying behind one of its own.

Lezhi’s talent was first recognized by High Performance Sport New Zealand’s Regional Pathways Manager, Angus Warwicker-Le Breton, less than a year ago. Impressed by Lezhi’s natural ability, Angus contacted Badminton New Zealand’s CEO Stephen Nelson, also based in Hawkes Bay, which led to Lezhi’s inclusion in HPSNZ’s pathways programme and marked the beginning of an exciting chapter in his athletic journey.

The HPSNZ pathways programme supports young athletes like Lezhi with holistic development, offering not just on-court training but also access to national experts in sports psychology, nutrition, and athlete-centred workshops. The programme also provides strength and conditioning services through the Te Tūranga Athlete Development Programme, utilizing top-tier facilities and staff. The programme also assigns athletes with a mentor, which in Lezhi’s case was Stephen Nelson, to help guide athletes in setting goals and navigating both their sports careers and personal development.

Angus caught up with Stephen to provide some insight into his first experience of Lezhi’s talent and the tournament that Team NZ are hoping to thrive in.

“Lezhi was first selected for a New Zealand Junior Team (Under 19) as a 16 year old, when in 2023 he was selected for the Oceania Junior Team Champs. Lezhi was also selected in 2023 (again still 16) for the World Junior Championships team. As the youngest player in the team this is a reflection of Lezhi’s talent and potential. He performed admirably at WJC 2023 and won a crucial mixed doubles match for New Zealand to help set up a win.

Lezhi an excellent all round player, but considering where he is from, his success is even more remarkable. He does not have the regular access to quality coaches, or quality sparring partners, that all of our other top junior players do. I think this is partly to do with his personality, where he displays a level of maturity beyond his years. The addition of support from HPSNZ’s pathways programme has also undoubtedly boosted Lezhi’s confidence as well as his physical strength. All this has enabled him to “keep up” with our best other juniors, despite the disadvantages being from Hawkes Bay brings. This has culminated in his selection again in the New Zealand team for the 2024 World Junior Championships.

For the 2024 teams event New Zealand has been drawn in Group D, along with two seeded teams (UAE and Denmark) as well as Cook Islands and Trinidad & Tobago. If we can finish third in this group, we would then contest for positions 17 to 24, which is the goal. Interestingly this year’s edition of the teams event will see the introduction of a team relay format, which promises to be a more exciting quick fire scoring format. It will be very interesting to see how all the teams adapt to this format, which the New Zealand team is currently training for.

Beyond the competition, the World Junior Championships provide invaluable experience for athletes like Lezhi, exposing them to the global nature of badminton and motivating them to bridge the gap between New Zealand and top-tier nations. For Kiwi athletes to succeed at senior pinnacle events, they need international experience, and this tournament is a critical step on that journey.”

Lezhi’s rise has been a story of hard work and resilience, supported by the Te Tūranga Athlete Development Programme. In addition to his badminton career, he balances his academic commitments at Hastings Boys’ High School with a part-time job at Pak’nSave to help fund his sporting dream. His determination to achieve his goals, both on and off the court, sets him apart as a remarkable young athlete.

As Lezhi prepares to take on the world’s best at the YONEX BWF World Junior Championships, everyone at Te Tūranga Athlete Development Programme and across New Zealand is behind him. No matter the outcome, his journey has already been a success, and we are immensely proud of his achievements.

So as Lezhi heads to Nanchang, China, with his racket in hand, we say: Kia kaha, Lezhi. Your community is with you, every step of the way.