Cebuanos shine in Manila age-group b'minton

CEBU - They may be outnumbered but the Cebuanos managed to climb up the podium after winning a gold and two bronzes in the National Age-Group Badminton Championships recently in Manila.

Saint Benedict’s Lindsay Solomon and Hannah Tudtud grabbed the elementary doubles gold afer outclassing MSI JTLC Battledore Club’s Leonardo and Bernardo in two sets, 21-19, 22-20.

Jeralyn Taboada of the University of Cebu, on the other hand, brought home two bronzes through the secondary girls singles and doubles.

Taboada failed to advance into the final battle of the singles category after losing to Calabarzon’s Cheska Alcasid, 21-4, 21-18.

Taboada and partner Irish Mae Ares though beat Patricia Medrano and Bianca Carlos, two of the players trained by one of RP’s finest shuttlecock artists Kennevic Asuncion, 21-18, 21-19, for the bronze in the secondary girls doubles.

Coach Dennis Olofernes of UC said playing in the said event was so hard for the young Cebuanos as they had to deal with intimidation from sponsored athletes by well-known brands and companies plus the crowd factor.

“Naka-ana lagi taga Manila namo ay, tibay gyud taga Cebu kay naka-abot man sa semis and finals. Kami-kami ra gyuy nag-cheer sa amo,”coach Olofernes said.—Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)