INQUIRER Sports

THE Philippines secured its best finish of 10th place in the World Juniors Badminton Championships despite a 3-0 loss to fancied Denmark Monday at the Stadium Sultan Abdul Halim in Kedah, Malaysia.

Led by Peter Gabriel Magnaye, Paul Jefferson Vivas, Philip Joper Escueta and Malvinne Ann Venice Alcala, the Filipinos assured themselves of a record result after an earlier 3-1 trouncing of Singapore.

“This is the first time that the Philippines finished No. 10 in the world juniors,” said Philippine Badminton Association delegation head Federico Laciste Jr.

The young nationals improved on the country’s No. 23 ranking in 2007 with a strong showing in the 36-nation tournament that included powerhouse China, Russia, Malaysia, Thailand, England, Chinese Taipei, India and Indonesia.

Vivas and Magnaye sealed the Philippines’ 3-1 win over Singapore with a straight-sets 21-17, 22-20 decision of Jia Yi Koh and Jeffrey Wong Hao Cong in the boys’ doubles.

Magnaye also teamed up with Alcala in the mixed doubles where they scored a 21-18, 21-19 win over Hao Cong Jeffrey Wong and Ting Ting Thng.

The Nationals split their singles matches with Escueta downing Soon Lee Gerald Ong, 21-9, 21-16, in the boys’ division, before Gelita Castilo bowed to Jiayuan Chen, 21-7, 21-12, in the girls’ action.

The Philippines also scored earlier victories over Canada (4-1) and England (3-1) after dropping its opening-day assignment against India (2-3).