Day two of the 2023 CCAA National Badminton Championships lit up the stage as the level of play in each match elevated further and further. The resulting match up set up the finals to be one of the most exciting yet!
Here are the results from today’s competition:
Round Robin
Women’s Singles
Ritu Shah (UKC Blue Devils, ACAA) continued her dominance winning all of her matches. Devika Santhosh Kumar (Conestoga Condors, OCAA) lost her two matches today finishing the day with a 3-2 record. Johnna Rymes (Concordia Thunder, ACAC) improved her record to 4-1 while Moti Shams (Seneca Sting, OCAA 2) finished today at 2-3 gaining one win and one loss. Whitney Doucette (USTA Dragons, ACAA 2) finishes the tournament without a win and Taylor Burton (SAIT Trojans, ACAC 2) gains her sole win of the tournament.
Men’s Singles
Thomas Ashton (UKC Blue Devils, ACAA) finished the round robin with two losses (3-2) while Colin Zhou (Centennial Colts, OCAA) improved his record to 5-0. Vishal Dave (Centennial Colts, OCAA 2) won his matches (4-1). Disappointingly, Narayan Ramdhani retired from the tournament due to injury. Jack Gillies (UKC Blue Devils, ACAA 2) improved his record significantly by winning his two matches (2-3) while Anirudh Sharma (NAIT Ooks, ACAC 2) finishes the tournament winless.
Women’s Doubles
Victoria Duong/Airi Moromisato (Humber Hawks, OCAA) continued to dominate the round robin finishing with a perfect record (5-0). Abby Ledda/Cecilia Wolski (TKU Eagles, ACAC) and Anna Dugandzic/Fiona Purdy (UKC Blue Devils, ACAA) split their games with one win and one loss (4-1, 3-2). Amber Solomon/Brianna Warwick (MTA Mounties, ACAA 2) continued their losing streak ending the round robin at 1-4. Sylvie Bibeau/Noel Do (NAIT Ooks, ACAC 2) turned their fortunes from yesterday and won both their matches (2-3) while Morgan Grant/Mook Prasarn (Fanshawe Falcons, OCAA 2) finish 0-5.
Men’s Doubles
Aidan Badcock-Parks/Jack Ronahan (UKC Blue Devils, ACAA) won one and lost one finishing at 4-1 while Nishant Batra/Sirapob Title (Humber Hawks, OCAA) finished with a perfect record. Kevin Shah/Anthony Tso (Seneca Sting, OCAA 2) earned a final record of 3-2 and Emmanuel Duguay/Anthony Olson (TKU Eagles, ACAC 2) finished 2-3. Ben Broadbent/Jacob Lamothe (MTA Mounties, ACAA 2) finish the tournament with a 0-5 record.
Mixed Doubles
Sarthak Arora/Monique Lee (George Brown Huskies, OCAA) finish with a perfect 5-0 records while Bryce Mason/Anna Gillies (UKC Blue Devils, ACAA) split their games today ending at 4-1. Ninh Le and Deniese Scott (Centennial Colts, OCAA 2) lost their two games today finishing at 1-4. Jonathan Su/Jasleen Kaur (CUE Thunder, ACAC 2) found their stride today winning both their games to improve their record to 2-3 but Kyle Bauld/Caitlin McCavour (Dal AC RAMS, ACAA 2) finish the tournament without a win.
Semi-finals
Mixed Doubles
Sarthak Arora and Monique Lee (OCAA 1) defeated Jonathan Su and Jasleen Kaur (ACAC 2) in their semi final 21-10, 21-10 in a balanced match. The Albertan team unfortunately couldn’t find their strike while the Ontario team took advantage to come ahead with the win.
Bryce Mason and Anna Gillies (ACAA 1) fought a hard first set against Davis Wong and Ivy Ung (ACAC 1) but quickly found their way in the second set. They took the match 21-19, 21-7.
Mason and Gillies will face off against Arora and Lee tomorrow in tomorrow’s finals.
Men’s Doubles
Aidan Badcock-Parks and Jack Ronahan, another ACAA team, defeated Kevin Shah and Anthony Tso (OCAA 2) in a nail biting, point for point, 3 set match. Taking the way round, the Atlantic team demonstrated resolve and determination to emerge victorious against a strong Ontario team. They won the match 22-20, 27-29, 21-15.
In the other Men’s Double Semi final match, Nishant Batra and Sirapob Title (OCAA 1) outmatched Emmanuel Duguay and Anthony Olson (ACAC 2) taking the game 21-11 in both sets.
The scrappy Atlantic Team and the dominant Ontario team will meet in the finals.
Women’s Doubles
Anna Dugandzic and Fiona Purdy (ACAA 1) were undone by Abby Ledda and Cecilia Wolski (ACAC 1) as the Albertans took the game handily 21-3, 21-5.
Similarly, Victoria Duong and Airi Moromisato (OCAA 1) dominated their game against Sylvie Bibeau and Noel Do (ACAC 2) 21-9, 21-4 setting up the stage for a battle of giants.
The Ontario/Alberta rivalry will continue in the finals.
Men’s Singles
Thomas Ashton (ACAA 1) and Vishal Dave (OCAA 2) fought a heated battle (23-21, 21-23, 21-18) where both players’ tenacity, precision and judgement were tested. The fantastic match had the entire gym enthralled as both players went point for point until Ashton finally emerged victorious after a grueling three sets.
In the other men’s single semi final match up, Jack Gillies (ACAA 2) gave a valiant effort but fell to the dominant Colin Zhou (OCCA 1) setting up an absolute brawl for the final.
Women’s Singles
Ritu Shah (ACAA 1) demonstrated why she’s a strong favourite for a medal by handily beating Moti Shams (OCAA 2) 21-7, 21-2.
Former CCAA player of the year Johnna Rymes (ACAC 1) also demonstrated why she’s a contender, finishing Devika Santhosh Kumar (OCAA 1) in two quick sets (21-14, 21) and setting up a rematch with Ritu and giving her a chance to settle the loss from their previous meeting.
