RP shuttlers fall short in Asian Juniors

MANILA, Philippines - Gelita Castilo overwhelmed Kazakhstan’s Kharchenko Vladlena, 21-8, 21-11, and Wong Kit Ieng of Macau, 21-6, 21-9, but bowed to joint third seed Cheah Sonia Suya of Malaysia, 6-21, 12-21, in the Badminton Asia Youth under-19 Championships at the Stadium Juara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week.

Castilo’s third round stint in the girls’ singles ended the young Filipino bets’ campaign in the annual event which featured the leading and rising junior players in the region. The team finished second in Group C in team play with a 1-1 card but only the top teams in the six-division group advanced to the quarterfinal round.

The RP bets met strong opposition in the individual competitions with Jose Nej Martinez and Therese Servando absorbing a 12-21, 18-21 decision to Chinese Chen Zhuofu and Ou Dongni and Philip Escueta and Castilo dragging the fancied Korean pair of Yoon Joo Young and Shin Seung Chan to a three-set duel, 17-21, 21-19, 10-21, in the mixed doubles.

In the boys’ singles, Gerald Sibayan, 15, bowed to Indian Verma Sameer, 16-21, 17-21, while Escueta pulled off a 21-8, 21-7 rout of Pakistan’s Khan Arsian. The girls doubles team of Malvinne Alcala and Castilo won over Malaysia’s Khoo Erica Pei shan and To See Chiavern, 21-8, 21-16, but lost to Japan’s Sakuramoto Ayako and Okuhara Nozomi, 14-21, 18-21, in the next round.

In the second day of play, Niko Saquin lost to Indonesian Rhustavito Shehar Hiren, 21-7, 21-5, but Castilo toppled Vladlena and Alcala dropped a heartbreaker to Thai Pransopon Pajarat, 18-21, 21-16, 21-23.

Niko Saquina and Sibayan then lost to joint fifth seed Li Gen and Song Ziwei of China, 15-21, 14-21, in the boys’ doubles but Castilo followed up her victory over Vladlena with a win over Ieng only to fall again to Suya.

“Despite our setbacks, our players, aged 14-17, gained a lot of experience which for sure will help them grow to become better players,” said assistant coach Ian Piencenaves.