From left, Lina Tsukagoshi, Shaina Malonzo, Evan Seguritan, Sernantie Jimenez, Marlon Bautista, and Genelyn Lansangan pose with the NMI flag before starting their training camp at the Badminton Geelong in Victoria, Australia on Wednesday.
(NMBA) — Neighbors cross paths on the opening day of the Pacific Under 17 Invitation Team Challenge 2024 as the NMI Junior National Badminton Team takes on Guam today, Friday, at the Badminton Geelong in Victoria, Australia.
The NMI versus Guam pairing in the mixed competition is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (2 p.m. Saipan time) with the opposing teams testing each other’s might in five events — the men’s and women’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles. Suiting up for the NMI are Marianas High School students Genelyn Lansangan, Marlon Bautista, and Sernantie Jimenez, Saipan Southern High School’s Shaina Malonzo, Saipan International School’s Lina Tsukagoshi, and Tanapag Middle School’s Evan Seguritan. Coaching the NMI bets are Pacific Games veteran Janelle Pangilinan and Ezekiel Macario. They will be up against Guam’s Kristine Deng, Jacob Paredes, Danielle Saner, Johnson Yu, and Alan Zheng.
The six junior players are coming into the tournament after undergoing a three-day training camp at the same venue and are excited for their first game.
“They are looking forward to this great opportunity of playing against a lot of teams. It’s really helpful that before the competition, we had this training camp, as our players were able to see their opponents, had scrimmage with them, and gauged their skill level. When they go out there and play on the opening day, they have a better idea on how to approach the match,” Macario said.
“The kids are excited and will definitely give all their best come game time,” the NMI coach added.
After the three-day training camps and following the scrimmages and practice sessions at the Badminton Geelong, Pangilinan said Tahiti and Cook Islands would be the toughest teams to beat in the competition. Cook Islands will have its opener against New Caledonia in the morning match, while Tahiti will also see action in the 9 a.m. schedule, challenging Fiji. The NMI will battle Fiji in the afternoon match today at 5 p.m. to wrap up its opening day assignments. Then this Saturday, the NMI will face Tahiti in the 9 a.m. match before taking on the Cook Islands in the afternoon. For its last game in the round-robin play, the NMI will square off against New Caledonia this Sunday.
“We will be cheering for our NMI Junior National Team back home as they take on Guam and Fiji in the first day of the competition in Australia and the three remaining teams this weekend. The Northern Marianas Badminton Association has full confidence in the team. We believe that what they have been working on for months in their training sessions will come into play and translate into positive results,” NMBA President Merlie Tolentino said.
