BWF News

Cordon, Li Crowned Singles Champions – Pan Am Games 2015

TEXT BY DEV SUKUMAR | BADMINTONPHOTO

Guatemala’s Kevin Cordon and Canada’s Michelle Li emerged singles champions at the Pan Am Games 2015 in Toronto yesterday.

USA’s Phillip Chew won a second gold as he combined with Jamie Subandhi to capture the Mixed Doubles title.

Cordon (featured image) comprehensively outplayed young Canadian Andrew D’Souza. Cordon established an early lead of 9-2 and kept building from there, maintaining a healthy difference to take the first game at 13.

D’Souza (below; left) was combative in the second and kept marginally ahead early on, but after Cordon caught up at 8-all, it was an uphill battle for the Canadian who succumbed 21-13 21-14.

Home favourite Michelle Li had little trouble from compatriot Rachel Honderich in the Women’s Singles final. The two had also faced off in the Pan Am continental championships final last year, which Li won in straight games.

Honderich (below; left) was able to keep abreast until 11 in the first game, after which Li accelerated and left her opponent trailing behind. She was even more authoritative in the second game, not allowing Honderich to get into double digits as she wrapped it up 21-15 21-9.

The Mixed Doubles final was a USA versus Canada affair, with Chew in line for a second gold after having won the Men’s Doubles with Sattawat Pongnairat. Chew and Subandhi had the upper hand against Toby Ng/Alex Bruce through the early part of the encounter, taking the first game, and nearly had a hand on the title in the second as they led 19-13 and 20-16. The Canadians staged a remarkable comeback with a sequence of four straight points and levelled it at a game apiece after saving a fifth match point.

Chew and Subandhi (below; centre) however pulled away from 10-8 in the third and maintained a steady lead to clinch the title: 21-9 21-23 21-12.