Lady shuttlers give Thai Princess royal beating

The RP shuttlers proved no gracious hosts to Thailand Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana and partner Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisam as Irene Chiu and Vanessa Tanco posted a surprisingly lopsided 15-0, 15-2 victory over the Thai pair in the last 16 of the women’s doubles of the badminton event in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games at the Philsports Arena yesterday.

The Filipina pair forced the 19-year-old royal shuttler, a specialist in the doubles who made her debut in the Games, and her partner to a series of outside shots and miscues to fashion out the win in 20 minutes.

But Chiu and Tanco rammed into a talented Vietnam duo of Wong Pei Tty and Chin Eei Hui and lost, 4-15, 3-15, dashing whatever hopes of the hosts for a medal in the event.

The Thai Princess was gracious in defeat.

However, not even the presence of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo could inspire the Filipinos as world-rated mixed doubles partners Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion, who captured the bronze in the last SEAG in Vietnam, likewise took an early exit following a 14-17, 10-15 loss to Thailand’s Songphol Anukritiyawon and Kunchala Voravicnitchaikul in the last 16.

Kennevic earlier dropped his singles assignment to Poompat Sapkulchananart of Thailand, 4-15, 15-13, 4-15.

Jaime Junio Jr. and Mark Alvin Natividad also failed to reach the quarters as they lost to their counterparts from Singapore, 11-15, 15-10, 8-15, in the men’s doubles event.

The RP singles entries Chiu and Paula Obañana likewise failed to advance.