This year's tournament featured 275 athletes from 33 nations, including 39 Olympians, making it one of the most memorable editions in its history. The event served as a crucial platform for athletes to fine-tune their game ahead of the Paris Olympics, solidifying its reputation as North America's premier badminton competition.
Among the standout performers were Canadian athletes who will also represent the country at the Paris Olympics: Michelle Li, Brian Yang, Nyl Yakura, and Adam Dong.
Mike Butler, ChPC, the National Team Head Coach, evaluated the Canadian performance: “This was an opportunity for all Canadian athletes attending to gain some international experience at a level 500 event. Our large team of over 50 players performed strongly. This was a truly great development moment for many of our team members.”
Butler added about the Canadian Olympians's performance: “Our Olympic athletes ran into stiff competition from their opponents. I believe this was very good preparation for our Olympic athletes heading to Paris later this month. Our athletes have worked very hard in the lead-up to the games.”
The tournament not only celebrated elite competition but also highlighted the growing popularity of badminton among Calgary's diverse communities. The event had 250 volunteers and according to Bryan Merrett, Executive Director of Badminton Canada, "The Canada Open 2024 was a wonderful showcase of our sport. Thank you to Yonex, Calgary Tourism, Sport Canada, The Province of Alberta and Badminton Alberta for the support to deliver this world class experience to the athletes. The opportunity to host events of this scale in Canada helps develop and grow badminton in many ways including affording Canadian athletes the opportunity to play on home soil and inspiring young players to dream big!"
Meet the winners here
The YONEX Canada Open is North America's premier badminton event, attracting top international athletes and showcasing world-class competition. Held annually at the WinSport Event Center in Calgary, Alberta, the tournament is renowned for its competitive spirit, global participation, and commitment to advancing the sport of badminton.