PSC employe's kid rules NCR elims

MANILA, Philippines - A daughter of a Philippine Sports Commission employee barreled her way to the Palarong Pambansa as she topped the National Capital Region badminton eliminations at the San Andres Gym in Manila yesterday.

Sarah Joy Barredo, whose mother Tess is venue manager of the Rizal Tennis Center, overpowered Aldreen Concepcion of Quezon City, 21-15, 21-17, to cop the gold medal in the NCR qualifiers for the second straight year.

The victory thus put the 12-year-old Barredo on track of her bid to improve on her bronze medal finish in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte last year as she gears up for this year’s Palaro slated May 6-12 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

“I hope I can win the gold this time,” said Barredo, who took up the sport at 6 and has been a member of the Rizal Badminton Club since.

Barredo, a graduating student at Andres Bonifacio Elementary School, was also a vital cog in the squads that copped the girls team gold and mixed doubles in partnership with Boris Sumabat.

Barredo is now being recruited by several schools even as she hopes to land a spot in the national training pool.