Watched by her family, teammates and supporters, Golden Shuttle Foundation’s pride Bianca Isabel Carlos became the youngest Open Ladies Singles champion in the tournament’s history as she beat Jubie Ann Vallarta of Allied-Victor PCOME-RLC-C650, 21-19, 23-21 in 30 minutes at the 2009 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships. At 14 years and 1 month, Carlos erased the previous record for the youngest Open category champion made by Gelita Castilo in 2008, who also won her maiden Open Singles crown last year at 14 yrs and 4 months. Castilo missed the tournament this year as she represented the country in the World Juniors Badminton Championships in Malaysia, which coincided with the annual Yonex-Sunrise Philippines tournament.

Carlos, displaying maturity and strong resolve, overcame deficits in both the 1st and 2nd sets through an outstanding display of shot-making. In the 1st set, Vallarta was just 3 points away in winning the set and was leading 18-15 when she made three consecutive errors which allowed Carlos to get back into the set and eventually won, 21-19. Vallarta also had a set point in the 2nd set but Carlos proved to be the mentally stronger player as she once again, dug deep into the set and closed it out at 23-21. Bianca Isabel Carlos also captured another title in the 14U Girls Singles event by defeating teammate and doubles partner, Patrisha Malibiran, 21-15, 21-15. Carlos and Malibiran later partnered in the 14U Girls Doubles Finals to win against the No. 2 seed Francheska Alcasid and Janelle de Vera of Whackers Badminton Academy in tight three sets.

Meanwhile, in the Open Mens Singles event, another Golden Shuttle Foundation talent, Antonino Gadi, also etched his name in the record books as he captured the Men’s Singles crown and became only the third back-to-back champion in the tournament history. Having won the title in 2008, Gadi has been dominant all week long and has only lost 1 set in the entire tournament. In the Finals, Gadi outclassed Andrei Babad of the RP Team, 21-16, 21-16 in 40 minutes.

With the absence of the last year’s champions Marlon Villarin, Kennie Asuncion, Kennevic Asuncion and Karyn Velez, three new champions were crowned in the Mens Doubles, Ladies Doubles and Mixed Doubles. In Open Mens Doubles action, Mark Alvin Natividad (RP Team/Team Army) and Ronel Estanislao (Allied Badminton Club-Victor PCOME-DLSU-Club 650) routed Kelvin Panganiban and Gabbie Villanueva of the RP team, 21-14, 21-14. Estanislao (partnering with Pauline Ramos of DLSU/Kawasaki-Whackers Badminton Academy) also won the Open Mixed Doubles crown by defeating Edison Cupcupin and Melody Villaceran (Babolat-Philstar), 21-12, 21-14. In the Ladies Open category, Open Ladies Singles finalist, Jubie Ann Vallarta & partner Isabelle Villaran (of Allied-Victor PCOME-RLC-C650) lost to their teammates Danica Bolos and Descka Calimlim (also from Allied-Victor PCOME-RLC-C650), 21-18 15-21 21-15.

In this year’s tournament, only two players, male or female, have won three titles. Danica Bolos of Allied Badminton Club-Victor PCOME-DLSU-Club 650 won titles in the Juniors 18U GS, Juniors 18U GD and Open Ladeis Doubles, while Bianca Ysabel Carlos made her marks in the Open Ladies Singles, Juniors 14U GS and Juniors 14U GD.

Team Events

In the Corporate Category, Philstar captured its 3rd Corporate category title by defeating Robinsons Land, 2-0. And in the Intercollegiate Category, Far Eastern University captured the Gold while DLSU and UE, won the Silver and Bronze respectively.