OSHAWA, Ont. – If their performance at the University of Toronto Scarborough Badminton's Club (UTSBC) tournament is a sign of things to come, the UOIT Ridgebacks badminton teams have given their fans much to look forward to in 2019.
In their last tournament of 2018, the Ridgebacks doubles and mixed doubles, led by
Zhi Sheng Chen (Newmarket, Ont.) and
Emilee Carmichael (Stouffville, Ont.), delivered impressive performances, with members of the coaching staff calling it the best they have played all season.
In men's doubles results, assistant coach Doris Carriere partnered with
Zhiyi Chen (Newmarket, Ont.); the pair won their first-round match against Edward Trinh and Johnny Li, before falling in the second round to Vinh To and Jonathan Trieu, 10-21, 14-21.
Elsewhere,
Vincent Dai Yung Chan (Mississauga, Ont.) and
Alfonse Ly (Scarborough, Ont.) dominated their first-round opponents (21-14, 21-4), before being ousted by the University of Toronto's Jim Zeng and Thi Le.
Thanushan Ravi (Markham , Ont.) and
Norbert Wojdylo (Oshawa, Ont.) lost in the second round of the B flight.
Carmichael and
Alyssa Wong (North York, Ont.) were narrowly defeated in the first round of the women's doubles tournament, but then stormed through the consolation round, sweeping all their matches to win the B flight. In other mixed doubles action,
Bonnie Chung (Scarborough, Ont.) and
Ashley Sun (Ottawa, Ont.) lost to former Uof T OUA all-star Shilin Cheung and Rie Yahagi (Japan) in first round of the A flight, then fell in the first round of the B flight.
Elsewhere, in their first tournament as partners,
Katie Chung (Markham, Ont.) and
Brittney Yiu (Pickering, Ont.) lost in the first round to Cassidy Li and Fiona Li. Mai Lyn Puittinen and Angela Li reached the semifinal of the A flight before running into eventual winners Angela Li and Nicole Wang, 14-21, 17-21.
The mixed doubles event proved to be the strongest for the Ridgebacks.
Zhi Sheng Chen and
Emilee Carmichael advanced all the way to the A flight final, with victories over teammates Vincent Chan and
Ashley Sun, Ryerson's Angus Finnegan and Annie Lin, and Morgan Li/Nisara Soma and Matthew Sit/Nicole Wang of York. The pairs impressive run came to an end in the final in a single game 14-21 loss to Timbo Lam and Angela Li, also representing York.
Alfonse Ly and
Bonnie Chung lost to former Ridgeback
Tanmay Karnavat and Amanda Law (Ryerson) in the A flight first round. The first round also claimed Wojdylo and
Shuyu Zhang (Mississauga, Ont.), who lost 14-21, 17-21. Ridgeback rookie, Wong, was partnered with Carriere, a combination that produced stellar results with a 21-8, 21-11 first-round victory, 21-14, 21-7 second round victory (both UTSC squads), and then a win over Colin Mahoney and Michelle Duong (Ryerson) in the third round. Their exceptional stretch was finally derailed in a semi-final confrontation with the formidable Lam/Li, eventual A flight champions.
On Friday, Nov. 30, the Ridgebacks will host their second intra-squad ladder competition in all events.
