INQUIRER Sports

THE PHILIPPINE JUNIOR badminton team downed a rated Hong Kong squad before bowing to Indonesia and winding up third in the Asia Junior Sports at the Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo, Japan over the weekend.

“I am happy with the performance of our players and their showing was commendable,” said head of delegation, Police Supt. Westrimundo Obinque.

The junior shuttlers also landed the bronze medal during the Badminton Asian Youth 16-under championships in Sri Lanka last month.

This time, the RP shuttlers secured the bronze after pulling off a 3-1 triumph over Hong Kong to reach the semifinals.

John Kenneth Monterubio and Gerald Sibayan hacked out RP’s first point in the boys’ doubles by beating Tam Chun Hei and Chin Chung, 21-15, 25-23.

Gelita Castillo and Dia Nicole Magno struck for the second point after besting Tang Tsz Ching and Juwang Wun Yan, 21-16, 21-11, in the girls’ doubles.

The boys’ singles match went to Hong Kong’s Chan Tsz Him, who stunned Elijah Abdel Boac, 24-22, 21-18. Malvinne Ann Venice Alcala clinched the tie after overwhelming Cheung Ying Mei, 21-8, 21-16.

Powerhouse Jakarta proved too strong in the semis where the RP bets lost all their four matches. Bangkok, Thailand won over Hong Kong, 3-1, to make the finals where it lost to Indonesia.