The Philippine badminton team ended its 2022 Benin International campaign on a high note, amassing the three golds at stake in all the doubles events Sunday at the Gymnase Institut Régional de Santé Publique in Ouidah.
Alvin Morada and Yssa Leonardo took two of these titles in this tournament which is part of the Badminton World Federation’s Future Series, including the all-Filipino final in mixed doubles.
Morada, a National University alumnus, and Leonardo, a De La Salle University product, needed just 42 minutes to beat compatriots Christian Bernardo and Thea Pomar, 21-13,18-21, 21-17, and bag the mixed doubles gold to close out the tournament.
“It was a great performance for the players these past two tournaments in Africa, and to have both pairs in the finals in mixed doubles showed what we can do,” said head coach Rosman Razak.
Earlier, Morada and Bernardo made quick work of Nigeria’s Saddam Sidi Rufai and Khalil Safana Shamsuddeen, 21-12, 21-9, in the final of the men’s doubles, while Leonardo and Pomar also fashioned a similar drubbing of Egypt’s Jana Abdelkader and Nour Ahmed Youssri, 21-13, 21-17, in the women’s side.
Singles players Jewel Angelo Albo and Mika De Guzman both exited after the second round.
Albo lost to Malaysia’s Kim Sheng Chua, 10-21, 21-8, 19-21, while De Guzman absorbed a tighter three-set defeat to number 3 seed Amro Domou of Jordan, 21-19, 16-21, 14-21, in the said round.
