Janelle Pangilinan, left, and Jen Savellano in action during the Pacific Mini Games 2022. Photo: Northern Marianas Badminton Association
The Northern Marianas has been chosen to host two Badminton World Federation tournaments which serves as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Northern Marianas Open 2023 is due to take place from June 6-11, while the Saipan International 2023 is being held from June 13-18.
Badminton Oceania CEO Julie Carrel said it is significant development for the sport in the Pacific.
"This is a fantastic development for our Pacific region and it is exciting to see our long-term goal, to host an international tournament in the region outside of Australia or New Zealand, come to life. To have two back-to-back tournaments in less than a year since hosting the Pacific Mini Games is an incredible legacy achievement.
"It is also testament to the highly motivated and organised team at Northern Marianas Badminton Association who have inspired several pathways to grow the sport across their country."
The Northern Marianas Badminton Association (NMBA) president Merlie Tolentino said this will provide momentum for further milestones.
"After we made history in June this year by hosting the Pacific Mini Games and winning the NMI's first medal in a regional competition, the NMBA is highly motivated to ride on this momentum and make more accomplishments for NMI badminton.
"Now, with two BWF-sanctioned tournaments scheduled to take place on our island next year, we are looking at reaching more milestones."
The CNMI hosted the 2022 Pacific Mini Games and badminton was one of nine sports included in the multi-sport programme.
Two NMI players, Janelle Pangilinan and Jenine Savellano, won an historic first Pacific Games medal, while a network of local personnel was upskilled in event management, administration, umpiring, and line judging.
Qualification will run until 28 April 2024 with the Race to Paris ranking lists as of 30 April 2024 used to determine the initial list of qualifiers.
The total quota for badminton remains 172 places (86 men and 86 women), which includes two host country places and four universality places in addition to the regular quota places of 166.
Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) has a maximum quota of eight places each for men and women.
Qualification will run until April 2024 with the Race to Paris ranking lists used to determine the initial list of qualifiers.
The total quota for badminton remains 172 places (86 men and 86 women), which includes two host country places and four universality places in addition to the regular quota places of 166.
Each National Olympic Committee has a maximum quota of eight places each for men and women.
Northern Marianas technical officials at the Pacific Mini Games 2022 Photo: Northern Marianas Badminton Association