Berce, Tablante win PH Junior International silver

MANILA — Seanna Berce and Psalm Tablante secured the silver medal in the girls’ under-15 doubles at the inaugural Philippine Junior International Series, which concluded Sunday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA-Laguna students lost to Malaysia’s Leanne Fong and Xin Lian Yiew, 21-19, 21-13, in the final.

“Malungkot po kami na natalo kami, pero babalik po kami nang mas malakas. Babawi po kami,” Berce said.

“Parehas lang po sa nararamdaman ni Seanna, pero alam po namin ‘di po yun yung 100 percent po namin. Pero ginawa po namin yung best po namin ngayon tsaka nagkasundo kami, tsaka ang importante nakapagfinals kami,” Tablante added.

Despite the defeat, the 12-year-old pair from Laguna cherished the opportunity to represent the Philippines and demonstrate the potential of young Filipino athletes.

Tablante said financial limitations made the opportunity to compete in the international tournament particularly meaningful.

“Sobrang importante po para sa ‘min kasi wala po talaga kaming budget. Pero nagulat kami nagkaroon ng pagkakataon kaya grinab na po namin yung opportunity, tsaka pinaghandaan po namin,” said Tablante, a native of Biñan.

Fong and Yiew’s victory highlighted Malaysia’s strong performance in the tournament, which attracted young badminton players from more than 30 countries.

Malaysian doubles specialist Khairul Azlan Khashah emerged as a two-time champion after winning the mixed and men’s under-19 doubles titles.

The 16-year-old Khashah partnered with Nur Aina Maisarah to defeat Vietnam’s Nguyen Tat Duy Loi and Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, 21-16, 21-8, in the mixed U19 final.

Khashah later teamed with Yusuf M. Iqbal to capture the men’s U19 doubles crown in a 21-16, 17-21, 23-21 thriller.

Julius Yeo delivered another gold medal for Malaysia by beating Thailand’s Thadesha Udomhunsakul, 21-14, 21-9, in the boys’ U15 singles final.

Hwee Ling Leong and Min Yi Teoh added the women’s U19 doubles title after overcoming Thailand’s Kungkaew Kakanik and Montra Sae Jiew, 21-16, 21-19.

Kakanik recovered from the doubles defeat to win the women’s U19 singles championship over Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, 22-20, 14-21, 21-13.

Nguyen Tat Duy Loi captured the men’s U19 singles title after rallying past Malaysia’s Leong Din Shan, 20-22, 21-17, 21-16.

Thailand swept the boys’ and mixed U15 doubles championships.

Sanwat Choomark and Kamolporn Saelor defeated Thai compatriots Shuwichak Meechai and Sirikhorn Chongcharoen, 21-13, 21-17, in the mixed U15 doubles final.

Udomhunsakul bounced back from his singles defeat by partnering with Patsakorn Watcharapraphaiphan to win the boys’ U15 doubles crown.

The Thai pair rallied past Choomark and Worapat Saengvanich, 16-21, 21-17, 21-18, in the final.

India claimed the remaining championship in the girls’ U15 singles after its representative defeated Malaysia’s En Yu Lim, 21-13, 21-16. (ABS-CBN News)