NCAA adds women’s badminton on Season 89

MANILA, Philippines – The NCAA has added women's badminton as a regular sport in its sporting calendar starting in Season 89 on June 22.

The approval was announced by former league president Tamerlane Lana, OP, of Season 88 host Letran during the formal turnover ceremony of the hosting to newly installed president Bro. Dennis Magbanua, FSC, a few days back.

"Women's badminton will be played as a regular sport starting in Season 89," said Lana.

The addition of women's badminton hiked the total of sports being played in the seniors' division of the oldest collegiate league to 18, including men's badminton, women's swimming and soft tennis, which were enlisted as regular sport in Season 88.

The other sports in the league calendar are basketball, men's and women's indoor volleyball, chess, lawn tennis, football, men's swimming, men's and women's table tennis, men's and women's taekwondo, track and field and men's and women's beach volleyball.

The cheerleading competition, which is now traditionally being done during the last month of the season, is an NCAA sport but its result will not count in the determination of the overall champion.

Men's badminton was won by Emilio Aguinaldo, soft tennis and women's swimming both by St. Benilde when it debuted as a regular discipline last season.

Women's badminton's acceptance came on the same week Arellano U was officially elevated from associate to regular membership.

“We’re happy with the approval for permanent membership status of Arellano U in the NCAA and we congratulate them,” said Magbanua, who will take over as St. Benilde president from Bro. Victor Franco, FSC, on May 15.

The Chiefs will thus become the eighth regular active member of the oldest collegiate league. They joined the league in 2009 and met the requirements set by the league for five straight seasons as probationary member.

Magbanua said Season 89's theme is "Stars Will Shine in Season 89."