By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Philippine women’s badminton team fell to the Thailand squad, 5-0, in its first outing in the preliminary round of the Badminton Asia Team Championships which got under way on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Thais, fourth-seeded entering the tournament, were in their element right at the onset, opening with impressive wins early on in the Group Y match.
Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Pornpawee Chochuwong swept their way to victories over Filipino shuttlers Airah Albo and Bianca Carlos, respectively, to give Thailand a 2-0 lead to start off things.
Ms. Ongbamrungphan was a 21-8, 21-10 winner over Ms. Albo while Ms. Chochuwong beat Ms. Carlos, 21-15, 21-12.
The Thais completed the sweep of singles play and went up, 3-0, with Chasinee Korepap defeating Sarah Barredo, 21-14, 21-15.
The rough showing for the Filipinas spilt over to doubles play as the duo of Alyssa Leonardo and Thea Pomar fell, 21-12, 21-13, to the tandem of Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai.
Thailand’s 5-0 victory was completed with Chasinee Korepap and Phataimas Muenwong winning over Joella de Vera and Chanelle Lunod, 21-10, 21-8.
Next for the Philippines is Indonesia today at 10 a.m.
As of this writing, the Philippine men’s team was to face Chinese Taipei.
The 2020 Badminton Asia Manila Team Championships, organized by the Philippine Badminton Association, is backed by Smart Communications Inc., MVP Sports Foundation, Leisure and Resorts World Corporation, Cignal, and TV5.
