Shuttlers rip Sri Lankans, lose to Thais

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines edged Sri Lanka, 3-2, but bowed to powerhouse Thailand, 0-5, to split its opening day assignments in the mixed team event of the Badminton Asia Youth Under-19 Championships at the Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Monday.

Malvinne Ann Alcala and Philip Escueta disposed of Kapuru Rathnasiri, 21-18, 21-9, and Kuruppuge Dharmawadena, 21-15, 21-15, respectively, in the singles matches then Alcala and Gelita Castilo fashioned out a 21-16, 21-15 triumph over Rathnasiri and Weerasinghe Samanthika to clinch the victory for Team RP, whose campaign is sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos.

The boys’ doubles pair of Jose Martinez and Niko Saquin, however, lost to Kariyawasam Umayanga and Dharmawadena, 21-19, 10-21, 17-21, in a non-bearing contest while the mixed doubles tandem of Escueta and Castilo took the first set, 21-7, and was leading at 3-0 in the second when Castilo sustained an ankle injury, forcing team officials to yield the game.

Castilo’s injury hampered RP’s bid against Thailand, which went on to sweep all the matches in the event which drew the region’s top and rising junior players.

Escueta held his own against Poodchalat Pisit but dropped a 21-15, 21-18 decision, and Alcala fell to Intanon Ratchanok, 21-10, 21-14. The boys tandem of Gerald Sibayan and Martinez nearly pulled off a first set win over Ampunsuwan Wannawat and Istivanet Tinn but lost steam in the end, 22-20, 21-11.

The Thais completed the rout as Phattanaphitoon Maetanee and Lam Narisapat beat Alcala and Therese Servando, 21-19, 21-11, in girls doubles and Apisuk Inkarat and Taerattanachai Sapsiree routed Saquin and Servando, 21-5, 21-9, in mixed doubles.