Thomas Mereana-Ngauru, President of the Cook Islands Badminton Association (CIBA), has been elected as a Vice President of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC). His new role will allow him to use his experience in sports leadership to support all athletes across the Cook Islands.
For the past 10 years, Thomas has been at the heart of badminton’s rapid growth in the country. When he first became president of CIBA, the sport was struggling. Few people were involved, and there was no clear plan for development. But Thomas saw potential and committed to building the sport, one step at a time.
“I told myself that if I was going to put in the work, I’d make sure it paid off,” he said. “I wanted to make badminton the number one sport in the country. That was my motivation.”
Year by year, Thomas introduced new programs—whether it was community outreach, more tournaments, or overseas trips for players. Over time, the sport became stronger and more popular. Today, CIBA is nearly unrecognizable from what it was a decade ago.
Seeing the progress his athletes have made, Thomas knows that without his team’s work, many of them may never have discovered badminton.
Now, he says the next big step for these athletes is international competition, including the Youth Olympics. But to get there, they need more support.
“We need help from the CISNOC board to create those opportunities,” Thomas explained. “I didn’t want all our years of effort to fall short just before the finish line.”
That goal inspired Thomas to run for the CISNOC board. Although it was a last-minute decision, he believed he could make a difference. Known for being involved in every part of his sport—from organizing events to coaching—Thomas now faces a new kind of leadership challenge.
“This role is different. It’s more about policies and big-picture planning, but I’m ready for it. It’s a new and exciting phase,” he said.
In the next five years, Thomas wants to help athletes compete at the Pacific Games and Youth Olympics. For badminton, he hopes to keep young players engaged, even when they move on to university. He believes that giving them a chance to represent their country will keep them motivated.
More importantly, Thomas is determined to help athletes from all sports.
“If our badminton players benefit from me being on the CISNOC board, it will be because I’m helping all Cook Island athletes equally. That’s how it should be,” he said.
Building a Strong Future for Badminton
Even as he steps into this national role, Thomas isn’t stepping away from badminton completely. He plans to stay involved with CIBA to make sure the sport continues to grow.
“It’s important that we have a strong plan for the future,” he said. “I’ll be around to make sure the transition is smooth. I won’t let badminton fall behind. That would go against everything we’ve worked for.”
Julie Carrel, Secretary General of Badminton Oceania, praised Thomas for his long-standing dedication.
“Thomas has been a driving force for badminton development in the Pacific for many years,” she said. “His commitment and vision have lifted the sport in the Cook Islands. We’re excited to see the impact he will now have across all sports.”
With a decade of growth behind him and a new national leadership role ahead, Thomas Mereana-Ngauru is ready to keep building—this time for the entire Cook Islands sporting community.
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