KUWAIT CITY, April 4: If the first day is any indication of the things to come, it looks like the competition is going to be really tough in the Open Badminton Doubles 2-Day Cup which was inaugurated Friday at the Fahaheel Sports Center by the Filipino Badminton Association in Ahmadi (FBAA), one of the most recognized badminton organizations in the country.
Over the years FBAA has become well-known for producing excellent and well-organized tournaments and this one looks to be no different as everything ran smoothly on the opening day as players battled to make their mark right from the start.

Rules
A total of 8 categories have been lined up in this competition as follows :Men’s Higher A (MHA), Men’s Lower A (MLA), Men’s Higher B (MHB), Men’s Lower B (MLB), Men’s Higher C (MHC), Men’s Lower C (MLC), Ladies A/B and Mixed C with each pair playing a maximum of 10 games in the Elimination Round.
The top four pairs of each category will then advance to the semi-finals based on their total matches won and total points with the winners then advancing to the championship finals.
A running score of 61 points will be applied to all the categories in the Eliminations, semi-finals and finals will be applied in all classes.
In the event of a tie, three criteria will be considered to break the tie :1) Total matches won ,2) Total points accumulated in all matches and 3) Average of the last 3 matches.
The Technical Committee requires all the players to comply with the matches format to maintain and follow the tournaments schedule. However, if there are unavoidable circumstances the following replacement and default guidelines should be followed:
The waiting time before declaration of default is only 5 minutes per match. In case of a no-show, the game is immediately forfeited with a score of 41-20 points in favor of the team with a complete set of players.
On the other hand, if a player retires or withdraws during a game, match will favor the opposing team while a replacement is allowed during the elimination round only but replacement player should be of same or lower category and this change is subject to the committee’s approval.
FBAA Technical Committee will have the final decision on any dispute or changes related to the tournament.
Men’s Higher A
In Men’s Higher A c, the tandem of Carlo Bornilla and Albert Marcelo were comfortably holding on to the driver’s seat with unbeaten run in 5 matches as they overpowered Ed Antonio and Allan Bondoc 38-23 before being made to sweat for every point to edge Rowx Bugas and Erwin Mercado 31-30.They then brushed aside Sherwin Felizardo and Joshua Lagran 38-23, hammered Norman Abad and Gaurav Joshi 37-24 and thumped Bon Elamparo and Jon-Jon “Idol” Torres 37-24.
Some new names were seen among the premium line of players in the form of Sanal Gopi and Sheikh Ibrahim who proved that they are not new to the sport and showed some real class when they compiled 4 wins to be the 2nd best pair so far as they tamed Forp “Da Flash” Alonzo 33-28, overwhelmed Joenel Seva and William Naoe 34-27, beat Norman Abad and Gaurav Joshi 35-26 and overcame Rowx Bugas and Erwin Mercado 34-27.
Meanwhile, Rowx Bugas and Erwin Mercado collected 3 wins when they put in their best effort to outlast Sherwin Felizardo and Joshua Lagran 31-30 before edging Ed Antonio and Allan Bondoc 31-30 and brushing aside Joenel Seva and William Naoe 34-27.
Ed Antonio and Allan Bondoc accomplished 3 wins when they overcame Norman Abad and Gaurav Joshi 33-28, tamed Forp Alonzo and Jong Rimando 34-27 and outlasted Joenel Seva and William Naoe 32-29.
Sherwin Felizardo and Joshua Lagran claimed two victories when they wasted no time to beat the exhausted pair of Forp Alonzo and Jong Rimando 44-16 before they overpowered Bon Elamparo and Jon-Jon Torres 41-20.
Joenel Seva and William Naoe gathered 2 wins when they overpowered Bon Elamparo and Jon-Jon Torres 39-22 and then fought wisely to edge Sherwin Felizardo and Joshua Lagran 31-30.
There were some pairs who did not go home empty handed as Norman Abad and Gaurav Joshi bounced back to outlast Forp Alonzo and Jong Rimando 32-29 while Forp and Jong overcame Bon Elamparo and Jon-Jon Torres 33-28 and Bon with Jon-Jon ended the unbeaten run of Sanal Gopi and Sheik Ibrahim with a 32-29 victory.
Men’s Lower A
The tandem of Jyotish PG and Hans Ita-as topped the list in Men’s Lower A class when they were undefeated in their 5 matches as they hammered Sajid Avila and Dave Laguio 36-25, thrashed Roma Valdez and Nikka Roda 37-24, outlasted Kevin Yap and Karlo Petines 32-29 and edged Ron Margate and Rio Ferrer 32-29 before they were made to sweat for every point to beat Eduard Pascual and Emil Millanar 31-30.
Eduard Pascual and Emil Millanar on the trail of the leaders with 3 wins when they brushed aside Gerry Labagnoy and Ryan Aguilar 35-26, outlasted Marvin de Luna and Mark Zalavarria 32-29 and overwhelmed Sajid Avila and David Laguio 39-22.
The girl power of Roma Valdez and Nikka Roda saw the pair comfortably seated in 3rd place when they acquired a 34-27 victory over Ron Margate and Rio Ferrer before overcoming Gerry Labagnoy and Ryan Aguilar 33-28 and outlasting JP Parayno and Gerry Aguilar 32-29.
Marvin de Luna and Mark Zalavarria gathered 2 wins when they tamed Sonny Cajipe and Anthony Mendoza 38-23 and edged Kevin Yap and Karlo Petines 31-30.
JP Parayno and Gerry Aguilar had so far claimed two victories as they overcame Sonny Cajipe and Anthony Mendoza 33-28 and beat Ron Margate and Rio Ferrer 32-27.
Kevin Yap and Karlo Petines gathered 2 wins when they crushed Arj Lesaca and Tim Torres 42-19 and outlasted Gerry Labagnoy and Ryan Aguilar 31-30.
Arj Lesaca and Tim Torres fought back in the other matches to beat Sajid Avila and Dave Laguio 35-26 before edging Sonny Cajipe and Anthony Mendoza 31-30.
Meanwhile three other pairs did not go home empty handed as Gerry Labagnoy and Ryan Aguilar outlasted Arj Lesaca and Tim Torres 32-29 while Ron Margate and Rio Ferrer were made to sweat to edge Sonny Cajipe and Anthony Mendoza 31-30 and Sonny with Anthony hammered Sajid Avila and Dave Laguio 38-23.
Men’s Higher B
In Men’s Higher B, Adrian Marell B. Simeon and Dennis Malay occupied the leader’s seat when they blended well on the courts to overwhelm Janette Rimando and Mokbul Hussein 34-27 before they wasted no effort to beat Mohammad Shahbaz and Shabeer Sheikh 45-16, tame Kenjie B. Corpuz and Roman Malabanan 38-23 and brush aside July Espiritu and Anthony Valdez 33-28.
Marlad Aman and Arnel Lara compiled 3 wins when they overpowered Mohammad Shahbaz and Shabeer Sheikh 45-16, outlasted Mamoun Askar and Arnie Manuel 32-29 and tamed Arnold Miclat and Joel Marasigan 38-23.
The tandem of Janette Rimando and Mokbul Hussein join them with 3 wins when they overwhelmed Mamoun Askar and Arnie Miguel 37-24 before thrashing Mohammad Shahbaz and Shabeer Sheikh 44-17 and taming James Blaz and Gene Aniversario 34-27.
Rommel Carlos and Aileen Perez accomplished 3 victories when they outlasted Kenjie Corpuz and Roman Malabanan 32-29, edged Roy Francisco and Ryan Rivera 31-30 and won by default against Mohammad Shahbaz and Shabeer Sheikh.
July Espiritu and Anthony Valdez also gathered 3 wins when they overcame Mamoun Askar and Arnie Miguel 33-28, outlasted Marlad Aman and Arnel Lara 31-30 and crushed Roy Francisco and Ryan Rivera 38-23.
Robert Gubat and Jonathan Munalem collected 3 wins when they brushed aside Arnold Miclat and Joel Marasigan 35-26 before winning two matches by default against Roy Francisco and Ryan Rivera & Mohammad Shahbaz and Shabeer Sheikh.
James Blaz and Gene Aniversario triumphed in two of their matches when they crushed Kenjie Corpuz and Roman Malabanan 37-24 and tamed Robert Gubat and Jonathan Munalem 34-27.
Arnold Miclat and Joel Marasigan achieved victory when they outlasted Rommel Carlos and Aileen Perez 32-29 before edging James Blaz and Gene Aniversario 32-29.
Kenjie Corpuz and Roman Malabanan were made to sweat for every point before they could beat Robert Gubat and Jonathan Munalem 31-30 while Roy Francisco with Ryan Rivera outlasted Mamoun Askar and Arnie Miguel 32-29.
Men’s Lower B
Men’s Lower B Ronaldo Marquez and Joel Buot occupied the top spot in this category when they had 6 unbeaten games as they overcame Freddie Ocampo and Mohammed Nipon 31-29, defeated Lawrence Viernes and Bernard Balungaya 33-28, brushed aside Cesar Isidro and Mark Revaca 35-26, thumped JR Briones and Gordon Astorga 35-26, outlasted Ato Mondejar and Annie Blouin 33-28 and edged Vince Vidal and Eric Farthing 31-30.
Freddie Ocampo and Mohammed Nipon collected 4 victories when they outlasted Cesar Isidro and Mark Rivaca 31-30 before taming Vince Vidal and Eric Farthing 34-27.They went on to hammer Lawrence Viernes and Bernard Balungaya 36-25, and thrash Ato Mondejar and Annie Blouin 39-22.
Victor Toledo and Anthony Petrache won 4 matches when they overcame Alyssa Tagate and Jeremy Lindquist 33-28, tamed Freddie Ocampo and Mohammed Nipon 35-26, edged Ato Mondejar and Annie Blouin 31-30 and thumped Lawrence Viernes and Bernard Balungaya 37-24.
The pair of Cesar Isidro and Mark Rivaca outlasted Vince Vidal and Eric Farthing 32-29, edged JR Briones and Gordon Astorga 32-29, overwhelmed Victor Toledo and Anthony Petrache 34-27 and won one game by default against Alyssa Tagate and Jeremy Lindquist.
Vince Vidal and Eric Farthing generated 2 wins when they overcame Lawrence Viernes and Bernard Balungaya 33-28, and hammered Alyssa Tagate and Jeremy Lindquist 34-27.
Ato Mondejar and Annie Blouin brushed aside Alyssa Tagate and Jeremy Lindquist 34-27 before they overcame Vince Vidal and Eric Farthing 34-27.
Men’s Higher C
Men’s Higher C leaders were the tandem of Rochelle Carlos and Marianne Salunga who thrashed Franklin Montesclaros and Tony Elamparo 41-20, hammered Cathy Haddad and Melissa Al-Bannay 33-28 and overpowered Ahmad H. and Aldrin Turalde 38-23.
Glenn Perea and Kiesha Steky scored against Jeanette Tantiangco and Tony Liow 34-27 before they crushed Noel Enbon and Maher Abdulwahab 43-18, and thumped Ahmad H. and Aldrin Turalde 36-25.
In the other matches, Jun Gonzalez and Glenn Piliotas overwhelmed Glen Perea and Kiesha Steky 34-27 before outlasting Rochelle Carlos and Marianne Salunga 32-29 and overcoming Joel Jimenez and Prashanth K 34-27.
Meanwhile, Joel Jimenez and Prashanth K 34-27 thumped Cathy Haddad and Melissa Al-Bannay 40-21 and tamed Ahmad H. and Aldrin Turalde 34-27.
Joshua Monungolh and Ted Yap were among the winners when they overwhelmed Daisy Balungaya and Mathew Ooman 34-27 and won one match by default against Allen Miole and Anne Diaz.
Jeanette Tantiangco and Tony Liow also won two matches when they brushed aside Jun Gonzales and Glenn Piliotas 34-27 and hammered Nihar Esmula and Claire Agsao 37-24.
Noel Enbon and Maher Abdulwahab had two wins as they edged Nihar Esmula and Claire Agsao 31-30 before they won by default against Dino Mendoza and Mathew Ooman.
Joing the group with two wins were Daisy Balungaya and Mathew Ooman who tamed Franklin Montesclaros and Tony Elamparo 36-25 while thumping Cathy Haddad and Melissa Al-Bannay 39-22.
Franklim Montesclaros and Tony Elamparo didn’t have a bad time as they edged Nihar Esmula and Claire Agsao 32-29 and beat Allen Miole and Anne Diaz 38-23.
Nihar Esmula and Claire Agsao did not go home empty handed as they overcame Joshua Monungolh and Ted Yap 35-26 while Ahmad H. and Aldrin Turalde thrashed Allen Miole and Anne Diaz 40-21 and Cathy Haddad and Melissa Al-Bannay brushed aside Allen and Anne 33-28.
Men’s Lower C
This is one of the most-attended classes and has been divided into two groups although the overall standings saw Marc Joy Gaza and Rico Gabuyo control the category with 5 wins when they wasted no effort to beat Maggie Haddad and Joel Pereira 40-21, before they overwhelmed Marvin Abalos and Cristopher Castilla 35-26, hammered Danilo Basco and Lito Lorempo 38-23, thrashed JD O’mara and Paolo Deoferio 42-19 and tamed Gay Ramas and Erwin Climaco 35-26.
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Shy Daprosa and Keesha Ng had 4 wins when they overcame Carolus Bag-ao and Jun Clamor 33-28, crushed Rani Calma and Benjie Abastillas 45-16, overwhelmed Roldan Gubat and John Fernandes 39-22, and brushed aside Ariel Casas and Roy Fuscablo 37-24.
Marvin Abalos and Cristopher Castilla hammered Danilo Basco and Lito Lorempo 41-20 before brushing aside Elsie San Juan and Regina Casano 35-26, edging Elmer Rivera and Ell Parado 31-30 and taming Martin and Jovie Vidal 36-25.
Allan Andrew and Celso Cruz overpowered Mark Quesada and Arthur Cotoco 43-18, hammered Roldan Gubat and John Fernandes 43-18, tamed Marlon Villanueva and Ildone Galvez 35-26 and overcame Carolus Bag-ao and Jun Clamor 34-27.
Cedric Isidro and Mary Grace Calungsod also did well to tame Danilo Basco and Lito Lorempo 37-24, before they hammered JD O’mara and Paolo Deoferio 41-20, outlasted Gay Ramas and Erwin Climaco 31-30 and edged Elmer Rivera and Ell Parado 31-30.
Maggie Haddad and Joel Pereira overcame Gay Ramas and Erwin Climaco 33-28, edged Elmer Rivera and Ell Parado 31-30, brushed aside Danilo Basco and Lito Lorempo 37-24 and outlasted JD O’mara and Paolo Deoferio 33-28.
Carlos Bag-ao and Jun Clamor overpowered Ariel Casas and Roy Fuscablo 41-20, before they thumped Rani Calma and Benjie Abastillas 38-23 and brushed aside Rhyan Alcantara and Bienvenido Fajardo 36-25.
Meanwhile, Elsie San Juan and Regina Casano edged JD O’mara and Paolo Deoferio 36-34, crushed Gay Ramas and Erwin Climaco 42-19, and brushed aside Martin and Jovie Vidal 36-25.
In some other matches, Marlon Villanueva and Ildone Galvez overwhelmed Ariel Casas and Roy Fuscablo 35-26 ,tamed Mark Quesada and Arthur Cotoco 32-29 and won one game by default against Rani Calma and Benjie Abastillas.
Elmer Rivera and Ell Parado also won two matches when they outlasted Martin and Jovie Vidal 33-28 and thrashed Elsie San Juan and Regina Casano 40-21.
Robert Gubat and John Fernandez figured among the winners when they overpowered Mark Quesada and Arthur Cotoco 38-23 and thumped Rhyan Alcantara and Bienvenido Fajardo 39-22.
Rani Calma and Benjie Abastillas edged Alan Andrew and Celso Cruz 32-29 before they outlasted Roldan Gubat and John Fernandes 31-30.
Ariel Casas and Roy Fuscablo were among the winners when they beat Rhyan Alcantara and Beinvenido Fajardo 32-29 and edged Mark Quesada and Arthur Cotoco 31-30.
A number of pairs did not go home empty handed as Rhyan Alcantara and Beinvenido Fajardo won against Marlon Villanueva and Ildone Galvez by default, while the “Vidal Brothers” Martin and Jovie brushed aside Cedric Isidro and Mary Grace Calungsod 38-23, Gay Ramas and Erwin Climaco tamed Martin and Jovie Vidal 34-27 and the tandem of Mark Quesada and Arthur Cotoco outlasted Rhyan Alcantara and Bienvenido Fajardo 32-29.
Ladies A and B
This is one of the categories that has a long list of players that resulted in the organizers dividing it into two clusters. On Friday, the girl power of Lyn Mendoza and Jellica Espinosa proved that they are one of the best pairs when they claimed the driver seat as they compiled 6 wins when they brushed aside Felina Nicolau and Tanette Tuliao 35-26, edged Eden Oning and Susan Santos 31-30, overpowered Gay Caedo and Maricel Culangan 39-22, brushed aside Daisy Villanueva and Ayla Ararilla 37-24, thumped Psyche Yvette Palado and Lanie San Pablo 36-25 and beat Maureen Ita-as and Lhen Vidal 38-23.
Veronica Garcia and Chato Guillermo brushed aside Cathy Punzalan and Gemma Tante 33-26 before they overcame Jennifer Petines and Nelia Torres 33-28, thrashed Welmyn Centeno and Rushe Flores 43-18, tamed Cecil Ibon and Belinda Valdez 34-27 and defeated Beth Marasigan and Stella Cagampang 33-28.
Meanwhile, Gren Padrones and Cheyenne Lampian beat Annie Centeno and Shirley Iglesias 38-23 and then crushed Jhen Chua and Rose Arroyo 48-13 before they hammered Welmyn Centeno and Rushe Flores 45-16.
Jennifer Petines and Nelia Torres overwhelmed Cecil Ibon and Belinda Valdez 39-22, edged Annie Centeno and Shirley Iglesias 32-29 and outlasted Catherine Punzalan and Gemma Tante 31-30.
On the other courts, Eden Oning and Susan Santos wasted no time to beat Arlene San Mateo and Beth Millado 42-19, overwhelm Psyche Yvette PPalado and Lanie San Pablo 37-24 and thump Felina Nicolau and Tanette Tuliao 42-19.
In other matches, Catherine Punzalan and Gemma Tante brushed aside Annie Centeno and Shirley Iglesias 38-23 before they tamed Jhen Chua and Rose Arroyo 39-22 and overpowered Welmyn Centeno and Rushe Flores 43-18.
Beth Marasigan and Stella Cagampang also did well when they outlasted Cecil Ibon and Belinda Valdez 33-28, overcame Gren Padrones and Cheyenne Lampian 33-28, and brushed aside Jhen Chua and Rose Arroyo 39-22.
Maureen Ita-as and Lhen Vidal were also among the winners as they hammered Gay Caedo and Maricel Culangan 39-22, tamed Psyche Yvette Palado and Lanie San Pablo 33-28 and edged Felina Nicolau and Tanette Tuliao 32-29.
Arlene San Mateo and Beth Millado collected two wins when they overwhelmed Daisy Villanueva and Ayla Ararilla 38-23 and tamed Gay Caedo and Maricel Culangan 34-27.
Felina Nicolau and Tannete Tuliao had a similar number of victories as they beat Arlene San Mateo and Beth Millado 33-28 and overcame Gay Caedo and Maricel Culangan 34-27.
In two other games, Annie Centeno and Shirley Iglesias outlasted Beth Marasigan and Stella Cagampang 32-29 before they edged Cecil Ibon and Belinda Valdez 31-30.
To round off Friday’s matches, Daisy Villanueva and Ayla Ararilla bounced back to edge Eden Oning and Susan Santos 31-30 while Gay Caedo and Maricel Culangan brushed aside Daisy Villanueva and Ayla Ararilla 38-23, Jhen Chua and Rose Arroyo tamed Welmyn Centeno and Rushe Flores 34-27, Cecil Ibon and Belinda Valdez hammered Welmyn Centeno and Rushe Flores 41-20 and Psyche Yvette Palado and Lanie San Pablo cruised past Arlene San Mateo and Beth Millado 37-24.
Mixed C
In Mixed C, Bhez de Chavez and Randy Habos topped the standings when they compiled 4 wins by thumping Irene and Antonette Climaco 42-19 before they overwhelmed Michael and Jenifer Rodrigues 34-27, hammered Andy and Mikee Al-Bannay 44-17 and tamed Katherine Go Elamparo and Shar Mae Miclat 48-13.
Melanchie O’mara and Claudette Farthing also had 4 wins as they overwhelmed Joana Blanco and Hammie Ita-as 36-25, beat Noraiza Parado and Marilou Ibasitas 37-24, brushed aside Katherine Go Elamparo and Shar Mae Miclat 47-14 and overcame Jade Fernades and Shai Ilaya 33-28.
Meanwhile, April Fernandez and Mary Jane Lamenggong overwhelmed William Reyes and Sergio Caicedo 39-22, tamed Noraiza Parado and Marilou Ibasitas 37-24 and one match was won by default against Michael and Jenifer Rodrigues.
Joan Blanco and Hammie Ita-as won by default against Irene and Antonette Climaco before they edged Melanie Tuliao and Angelo “Ayem” Miole 31-30 and overcame William Reyes and Sergio Caicedo 34-27.
In some other games, Jade Fernandes and Shai Ilaya thumped Andy and Mikee Al-Bannay 44-16 and brushed aside Melanie Tuliao and Angelo “Ayem” Miole 36-25.
Melanie Tuliao and Angelo “Ayem” Miole tamed William Reyes and Sergio Caicedo 34-27 before they overcame Noraiza Parado and Marilou Ibasitas 34-27.
Meanwhile, Irene and Antonette Climaco outlasted April Fernandez and Mary Jane Lamenggong 33-28 edged Michael and Jenifer Rodrigues 32-29.
In the other matches, Noraiza Parado and Marilou Ibasitas beat Katherine Go Elamparo and Shar Mae Miclat 38-23 while William Reyes and Sergio Caicedo tamed Andy and Mikee Al-Bannay 36-25, Michael and Jenifer Rodrigues overcame Jade Fernades and Shai Ilaya 35-26 and Katherine Go Elamparo and Shar Mae Miclat hammered Andy and Mikee Al-Bannay 41-20.
This event is being sponsored by Filipino Badminton Association in Ahmadi (FBAA) (www.fbaakuwait.org)
Special thanks to FBAA Execom and FBAA members.