Filipino shuttlers bag podium finishes in Philippine Junior Badminton Int’l Series

With more than 30 countries joining the event, three Philippine pairs delivered podium finishes in the inaugural Philippine Juniors International Series, hauling a silver and a bronze medal from the four-day meet at Gameville Central Park, Mandaluyong City, Aug. 6-9.

In the girls’ under-15 doubles, Seanna Berce and Sam Tablante fought their way to the final but settled for silver after bowing to Malaysian bets Leanne Fong and Xin Lian Yiew, 21–19, 21–13.

“Malungkot po kami na natalo kami, pero babalik po kami nang mas malakas. Babawi po kami,” Berce said.

“Parehas lang po sa nararamdaman ni Seanna, pero alam po namin ‘di po yun yung 100 percent po namin. Pero ginawa po namin yung best po namin ngayon tsaka nagkasundo kami, tsaka ang importante nakapag-finals kami,” Tablante added.

Meanwhile, Stephen James Pantuan and Roaquine Ramos concluded their campaign as semifinalists and secured a bronze medal in the men’s under-19 doubles event after a 21–11, 21–16 sweep over Chinese Taipei.

“Masaya po kasi hindi naman madali ‘yung pinagdaanan namin. Siyempre, nag-prepare din naman para sa tournament na ‘to. Kaya, sobrang saya po na umabot sa semifinals,” said Pantuan.

Ellaikha Marie Canillo and Nica Ysabel Gulpany also took home the bronze medal in the women’s under-19 doubles after falling to Thailand’s Kungkaew Kakanik and Montra Saew Jiew, 23–21, 21–12.

SOUTHEAST ASIA’S PRIDE REIGNED SUPREME

Fellow Southeast Asian countries dazzled their way to glory, collecting a total of 27 medals across all categories.

Thailand capped its mixed doubles under-15 campaign with a medal sweep, as Sanwat Choomark and Kamolporn Saelor captured gold, Shuwichak Meechai and Sirikhorn Chongcharoen took silver, and Nakarin Ponkasemsuk and Wichyada Nokmow settled for bronze alongside Malaysian dyad Zhen Hao Yeoh and En Yu Lim.

In the girls’ doubles under-15, Malaysia earned gold, while the Philippines took silver, as Thailand and Malaysia’s tandem rounded off the podium with a twin-bronze medal finish.

Repeating the feat, Thai youngsters pulled off another medal sweep in boys’ doubles under 15, with Thadesha Udomhunsakul and Patsakorn Watcharapraphaipha taking gold, Choomark and Worapat Saengvanich claiming silver, and Shuwichak Meechai and Ponkasemsuk joining Malaysia’s Zhi Lee and Yeoh as bronze medalists.

Meanwhile, India’s Kyra Raina claimed gold in girls’ singles under-15, while Malaysia’s Lim took silver and Foi and Ong secured bronze.

Malaysia rampaged again in boys’ singles under-15, with Yeo Julius winning gold, Shafiy Rayyan and Yin Jie Wong taking bronze, and Thailand’s Udomhunsakul claiming silver.

In mixed doubles under-19, Vietnam’s Tat Nguyen and Thi Thu Nguyen were the lone pair to break Malaysia’s dominance, securing silver, as Malaysia proceeded to snare the gold and bronze medals in the category.

The same dominance carried over to men’s doubles under-19, with Malaysia’s Khashah and Iqbal taking gold, Ungku Ameer and Ivan Lim claiming silver, and Ethan Oh and Meng Fong Wong sharing bronze with the Philippines’ Pantuan and Ramos.

Meanwhile, three countries shared the podium in women’s doubles under-19. Malaysia’s Hwee Leong and Min Teoh captured gold, Thailand’s Kakanik and Sae Jiew took silver, while Malaysia’s Arumugam Baavanya and Zing Wan shared bronze with Filipinas Canillo and Gulpany.

In women’s singles under-19, Thailand’s Kakanik claimed gold after defeating Vietnam’s Thi Thu Nguyen, while Chinese Taipei’s Tien Hsin Ai and India’s Naishaa Bhatoye rounded out the podium with bronze.

On the other side, Vietnam’s Tat Nguyen defeated Malaysia’s Di Shan Leong to claim gold in men’s singles under-19, while Singapore’s Zhen Hong Ng and Chinese Taipei’s Yung Neng Chuang rounded out the podium with bronze.