The Philippine Junior Badminton Team. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Badminton Association
MANILA – The Philippine Junior Badminton Team aims to smash their way to victory at the 2025 Asian Youth Games, following a strong finish at a recent international competition.
The eight-strong team accompanied by two officials from the Philippine Badminton Association (PBAD) left for Bahrain on Saturday.
"This is a critical tournament for us because it is a pre-qualifier to the Youth Olympics that will happen next year in October in Dakar," Philippine Badminton Association (PBAD) Head of Development Melvin Nubla told ABS-CBN News over the weekend.
"Itong eight na players na ito came from the national junior pool that we had this year. Our agenda is for those 22 players to really push and develop themselves. Mga bata pa mga ito eh," he added.
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Earlier this month, the Philippine Junior Badminton team placed 10th at the 2025 BWF World Junior Championship Mixed Event.
This marks the highest placing for the Philippines -- a feat it last achieved 16 years ago in 2009.
"We're really happy with the development, the track, with what's happening right now for the junior team. This is the first time in a long time na meron tayong ulit junior team for badminton," Nubla said.
When asked about the chances of the team in the Asian Youth Games, the PBAD official said he expects stiff competition especially from China and Thailand.
"As we say naman to the kids, it's either you win or you learn. Eh mga bata pa naman ito eh. So whatever happens here, we hope na mas lalo pa silang gagaling. Win or lose, mas lalo silang gagagaling," Nubla said.
The team is composed of Batang Pinoy gold medalist Eve Emmanuel Bejasa, Palarong Pambansa bronze medalist Shachie Airabelle Calderon, Palarong Pambansa silver medalist Cris Ivan Dosano, SIKLAB Youth Sports Awardee Christel Fuentespina, Palarong Pambansa gold medalist John Vincent Lanuza, Roshella Quierez, Roaquine Mari Ramos and NCAA Season 100 Rookie of the Year Ron Ezekiel Zacarias.
Some members of the team told ABS-CBN News they are looking forward to playing for the flag on the Asian Youth Games stage.
"Dapat po locked in kami tapos as much as possible po huwag po bibitaw every point sa laro. [Our goal] is to do our best talaga and perform po," Bejasa said.
"It's an honor to represent po talaga our country," she added.
"Yung preparation po namin, conditioned po kami and bigay lang po namin best namin. Sa tingin namin po ready po kami and feel namin makakaya po namin... magbigay ng karangalan sa bansa," Dosano shared.
Dosano also said they will take advantage of the opportunity to get more experience in their young career.
"Kasi yung sa exposure po. Like if nag-cocompete po sa ibang bansa makakatulong yung exposure po. Kasi like may mga makakalaban ka na magaling po. Pag matalo ka, pwede mo gawing motivation po," he said.
As for Ramos, he said he wants to bring him gold medals for the country.
"We have one player here si Eve Bejasa who will be part of the SEA Games already. She is only 16 years old but she is going to compete already in the SEA Games in December in Thailand. Part of her exposure na ito to see the level of competition," Nubla said.
Bejasa said she could not believe she will be playing for the flag at the Southeast Asian Games in December.
But the Cebuana said she hopes to gain experience in the Asian Youth Games for the regional showcase.
"Gagawin ko po siyang, grabe din po pag-prepare ko. Gagawin ko best ko to prepare po. Iba din yung pressure na dinadala ngayon kasi ako narin po nag-rerepresent ng junior po," Bejasa said.
"For me po hindi po ako masyadong nag-eexpect sa sarili ko kasi bata pa po ako. But yung goal ko po is to do my best po," she said of her first SEA Games stint.
The Asian Youth Games will run until October 31 in Bahrain.