Preparations for the U16 Shonai International Badminton Tournament 2025 are officially underway!

The very first step of venue setup is the installation of the court mats.

Each green mat, rolled up for transport, measures 1.78 meters wide and 15.4 meters long, and weighs approximately 60 kilograms. A total of 16 mats—enough for four full-size courts—are carefully carried to their designated spots and rolled out one by one.

It’s more physically demanding than it may appear, but the setup crew works in perfect sync, keeping the process smooth and efficient. Each court consists of four connected mat sections, assembled to meet international standards.

And this connection process? It’s truly a form of craftsmanship. When zipping the mats together, millimeter-level precision is required to align the court lines flawlessly. Even the slightest misalignment can impact the fairness of play, so the staff checks and double-checks each seam as they go.

Watching the courts gradually take shape is like witnessing the emergence of a battlefield—a stage where young athletes will soon give it their all.

This setup work, though behind the scenes, might just be the tournament’s first unseen “match”—a foundation for all the excitement to come.

Tomorrow, the setup will continue with lighting installation and venue decoration.

We’ll continue sharing updates as the arena steadily transforms into full tournament mode, so stay tuned!