Shuttlers will try their best versus world’s best

Ranged against the world’s best shuttlers, the national badminton team is quick to admit it may not contribute to the country’s gold medal haul in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

"I hate to say it but as for winning a gold medal, no, I don’t think we can do it ," said Martin Araneta, who replaced Butch Oreta as head coach last April.  "We are still a long way behind compared to other Southeast Asian countries."

Even a repeat of RP’s bronze medal finish in the previous SEAG in Vietnam is no guarantee, according to him.

"We are hoping that we could keep it.  Kennevic and Kennie (Asuncion) are really good but we can’t really say," said Araneta.

The Asuncion siblings, the only world-rated Filipinos in the sport, finished third in the mixed doubles event, the country’s best finish so far.

RP’s 12-man team is set to face the sport’s finest players including at least seven players ranked in the IBF Top 40 world rankings. The list includes World No. 2 Chong Wei Lee of Malaysia and Olympic gold medalist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia. 

"They present a challenge. Sure, I’d like to play against them.  I’d like to see it as a privilege," said former national No. 1 Kennevic Asuncion, who is also not keen about the team’s chances.

Araneta added the draw conducted two weeks ago at the PICC gave the country slim chances for a medal.  The draw pitted RP’s men’s team against Thailand, which will be bannered by world No. 13 Boonsak Ponsana, while the women’s team will go up against Indonesia–two of the world’s best teams in the sport. 

"I was hoping to get Vietnam in the draw because we are the hosts.  Last year, when Vietnam was hosting, they easily took the draw against us," said Araneta.

Even with only eight months of training and lack of exposure, however, Araneta said the team is prepared to fight it out in the court. 

"I am proud of my players.  Since I got in the team, we were practicing six days a week for eight months," he said. " And that is even if they know that tremendous challenge facing them and the prospect of playing only one game."