20th International Island Games Part 1: Greenland Triumphs in Mixed Team Showdown
By Ryan McCuaig
Every two years, island communities from across the globe come together for a unique celebration of sport, culture, and camaraderie — the Island Games. Organised by the International Island Games Association (IIGA), the Games are a biennial multi-sport event featuring teams from non-sovereign islands and territories (populations of no more than 100,000). Since their inception in 1985, the Games have grown into a major international fixture, offering athletes from smaller islands a rare chance to compete on a global stage.
Badminton Opening Ceremony (Sunday, 13th July), Photo: Kirstin Shearer Photography
In 2025, the honour of hosting the 20th Games fell to Orkney, and the badminton competition opened the Games (13–14 July) with a thrilling display of island pride and elite performance. Over two days of high-stakes action at the Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall, 16 island teams battled across five disciplines — mixed doubles, men’s and women’s singles, and men’s and women’s doubles — in a tournament that delivered drama, dominance, and unforgettable moments.
The Road to Glory: Group Stage to Gold
The opening day of competition set the tone for a tournament packed with intensity and surprises. Sixteen island teams were split into four groups, each playing three ties across five disciplines — mixed doubles, men’s and women’s singles, and men’s and women’s doubles. Every match mattered, and the margins were razor thin.
Greenland Pre-Match Team Chant (Day 1), Photo: Mike Robertson (Orkney)
In Group A, the Faroe Islands were untouchable. They dominated all three ties 5–0, winning all 15 matches and every single game — a perfect 30–0 record. Their dominance was clinical, conceding just 320 points across the group stage.
Group B saw Greenland emerge as a powerhouse. They dropped just one match — a hard-fought men’s singles loss to the Falkland Islands — and posted a 14–1 match record. Their 5–0 convincing victory over the Western Isles and a commanding 5–0 win over the Isle of Wight underlined their title credentials.
Group C was the most competitive. The Isle of Man edged out hosts Orkney in a thrilling 3–2 tie that went the distance. Orkney had earlier impressed with a 5–0 win over Bermuda and a 4–1 victory over Gotland, but the narrow loss to the Manx side meant they finished second in the group.
In Group D, Menorca and Shetland both posted strong records, but it was Menorca who topped the group thanks to a 3–2 win in their head-to-head clash. Shetland’s 5–0 sweep of Froya and a 4–1 win over Gibraltar showed their depth, but they would face a tougher path in the knockouts.
Jody Groundwater & Andrew Reid. Photo: Mike Robertson (Orkney)
By the end of Day 1, 40 ties had been played, totalling 427 games and over 14,000 points — a testament to the scale and intensity of the competition.
The knockout rounds delivered on every promise of drama.
In the semi-finals, Greenland faced Menorca and quickly asserted control. Despite Menorca’s spirited resistance, Greenland’s consistency across all five disciplines proved too much. Meanwhile, the Faroe Islands were pushed hard by the Isle of Man but held firm to book their place in the final.
The bronze medal match saw the Isle of Man bounce back with a 3–1 win over Menorca, securing a well-earned podium finish.
Then came the final — a showdown between the tournament’s two most dominant teams: Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
The tie opened with a thrilling mixed doubles match. The Faroese pair of Miriam Í Grótinum and Rúni Øster took the first game 21–13, but Greenland’s Tina Rafaelsen and Maluk Tiger roared back to take the second 21–13. In a tense decider, the Faroes edged it 21–15 to go 1–0 up.
Greenland responded with back-to-back wins in women’s and men’s singles. Sara Lindskov outlasted Sanna Thorkildshøj 21–17, 21–13, and Toke Ketwa-Driefer delivered a clutch 23–21, 21–13 win over Christian Berg Peterson to swing the tie in Greenland’s favour.
The Faroes levelled the score at 2–2 with a dominant women’s doubles performance, but it all came down to the final match: men’s doubles.
In a gripping finale, Greenland’s Toke Ketwa-Driefer and Maluk Tiger held their nerve to win 21–15, 23–21 — sealing a 3–2 victory and the gold medal.
The Pickaquoy Centre erupted. Greenland, who had never won the Mixed Team title before, were champions of the Island Games Mixed Badminton Team Event.
Spotlight on the Scottish Islands
Orkney, the host nation, delivered a memorable campaign. Their 4–1 win over Gotland and a clean sweep of Bermuda were highlights, but it was their narrow 2–3 loss to the Isle of Man — eventual bronze medallists — that truly captured the crowd’s imagination. Not only did Orkney finished fifth overall, the highest among the Scottish islands, this was also their highest ever finish at the Island Games.
Shetland Islands impressed in Group D, finishing second behind Menorca with an 11–4 match record. Their 5–0 win over Froya and 4–1 victory over Gibraltar showcased their strength, earning them an eighth-place finish.
Western Isles faced a tough group but showed resilience, particularly in their 4–1 classification win over Froya. They finished 15th overall but left with valuable experience and moments of promise.
Scottish Stars Shine on Home Soil
While the team standings told one story, individual brilliance lit up the courts for the Scottish islands. Across Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles, several players delivered standout performances that earned admiration from fans and opponents alike.
Orkney
- Jody Groundwater
A commanding presence in women’s singles, Groundwater was a key contributor to Orkney’s success. She notched straight-set wins against Bermuda and the Isle of Wight and played a pivotal role in the team’s 3–2 win over Guernsey. - Andrew Reid
A dual threat in singles and doubles, Reid’s 21–5, 21–13 win over Gotland and his partnership with Matthew Reid in men’s doubles were instrumental in Orkney’s fifth-place finish. - Shannon Leslie & Gemma Foulis
This women’s doubles pair proved nearly unbeatable, securing dominant wins including a 21–4, 21–10 victory over Bermuda and a 21–8, 21–5 win against Guernsey.
Shetland Islands
- Thomas Calder
One of the most consistent men’s singles players in the tournament, Calder cruised to wins over Froya and Gibraltar and pushed Menorca hard in the knockout stage. - Chloe Hitchin
A standout in women’s singles, Hitchin delivered emphatic wins, including a 21–5, 21–3 result against Froya and a 21–12, 21–5 win over Gibraltar. - Amy Sineath & Aimee Keith
This doubles duo was a highlight for Shetland, winning multiple matches in straight sets and helping the team secure a top-eight finish.
Western Isles
- Kevin Macleod
A reliable performer in both singles and doubles, Macleod helped the Western Isles to a 4–1 win over Froya and was a key figure in their spirited campaign. - Julie Murray
A versatile competitor, Murray featured in mixed and women’s doubles and contributed to the team’s only win with strong court presence and consistency.
A Tournament of Firsts (and Foghorns)
This year’s event didn’t just make history — it made noise. A lot of it!!!
During a particularly tense group session on Day 1, the Pickaquoy Centre reached ear-splitting levels of excitement. With foghorns blaring, feet stomping in unison and hooters, the atmosphere tipped from electric to seismic.
Officials, armed with decibel meters and a sense of humour, were forced to intervene. In a first for the Island Games, a mid-tournament health and safety announcement banned both foghorns and hooters after noise levels exceeded 100 decibels — roughly the volume of a helicopter at close range.
The ban was met with good-natured groans and one final, rebellious honk. But the crowd adapted quickly, switching to clapping, chanting, and creative cheering. The energy never dipped — it just got a little less industrial.
Final Placements
- Greenland
- Faroe Island
- Isle of Man
- Menorc
- Orkney
- Guernsey
- Isle of Wight
- Shetland Islands
- Gotland
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Ynys Môn
- Bermuda
- Western Isles
- Froya
Island Games Medal Table
*Results below are from the conclusion of the team event.
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Greenland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Faroe Islands | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Isle of Man | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Watch It Back
All matches are available to watch on the official Orkney 2025 YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@Orkney2025/streams
Coming Up in Part 2: The Individual Championships
With team medals awarded, the spotlight now shifts to the Individual Championships, where players will compete for singles and doubles titles. Expect fierce rivalries, breakout performances, and more island pride on display.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our Orkney 2025 badminton coverage — coming soon.
Mixed Team Medal Podium. Photo: Peter Chiu