The FREEMAN columnist and partner lead winners in La Fleche badminton

The Freeman sports columnist Michael Yu and partner Polly Antigua displayed grit and poise to rally down a lethargic start to capture the mixed doubles C crown in yesterday's La Fleche Smash Off badminton tournament at the Portside badminton courts.

Yu, who writes badminton column "Drop Shot" every Sunday and Antigua started off in a shaky mode as they squander the opening set, 6-15, over Richard Opone and Sally Dy.

But a more aggressive Yu and Antigua stepped back in the court as they limited Opone and Dy to score by pulling off a huge 15-2 win in the second set.

In the deciding match, Opone and Dy was headed for the win with a 15-2 count, however, Yu and Antigua slowly crawled back by scoring six straight points before wrapping it up to 15-12.

In the premiere mixed doubles A, University of San Jose Recoletos bets Spyro Mijares and July Marata endured an opening setback, 9-15, but swept the next two sets with Mijares unleashing hard smashes for 15-9, 15-1, over Karl Jolle Sorronda and Lelia Tampon.

On the other hand, businessman Alex Rañola and Antonio Belir stamped their class in the men's doubles B by trouncing Roger Castana and JB Bermesito, 15-6, 15-13.

Raulito Cabriles and Brian Villahermosa went through a three set tussle before dispatching Ryan Tiu and Kim Inoslay, 15-7, 12-15 to snatch the men's doubles class C title.

In the ladies doubles class E, Ewin De Guzman and Leones Pura mercilessly drubbed Joseidyl Gamolo and Jo-anne Mercado, 15-1, 15-5.

A total of 193 pairs joined in the two-day tournament with University of the Visayas and The Freeman as its co-presentors.