The University of Toronto Varsity Blues badminton team heads across town for the 2023 OUA championship, February 17-19, hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Nicky Aung, the Blues will be vying for their seventh consecutive OUA banner.

"No matter how difficult the challenge is, our goal is to stay positive and believe in ourselves," said Aung. "We will fight for every round to defend our title."

Leading the Blues will be four-time OUA all-star and 2018-19 OUA MVP Jonathan Lai. The second-year nursing student from Toronto is no stranger to the top of podium, and helped the Blues to a dominant victory at the McMaster Open in January.

Lai will be joined by fellow OUA all-stars Yunzhi Chen, Michael Farrell and Jonathan Chien, whose OUA championship experience will prove invaluable. Colin Jia, Ryan Zheng, Minh Pham and Clarence Chau will also represent the Blues this weekend.

Second-year standout Jocelyne Jaw will lead Toronto's women and will look to 2021-22 OUA all-star Rebecca Lee to help steer the Blues to victory.

Tammy Lai and Linda Zhao will help rookies Loretta Mak, Ann Peng, Liuqing Yang and Hiu Yi Kwok at their first OUA championship.
 
2023 OUA Championship
Toronto Metropolitan University
 
Varsity Blues Schedule
Friday, February 17
9:00am – vs Ottawa (Pool Play)
2:00pm – vs Western (Pool Play)
 
Saturday, February 18
9:00am – vs Guelph (Pool Play)
 
Sunday, February 19
9:00am – OUA semifinals
1:00pm – OUA bronze/gold-medal matches