PH settles for bronze at Sunchang Open soft tennis women’s doubles

The Philippines settled for third place in the women's doubles of the Sunchang Open International Soft Tennis tournament in South Korea on Saturday.

Team captain Bien Zoleta-Mañalac and Princess Catindig lost to Koreans Lee Hangyeol and Kim Koeun in the semifinal round, 4-5 (7), at Sunchang Public Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Philippine team composed of 13 athletes, four coaches and one official will proceed to Anseong City for the World Championships scheduled Sept. 3 to 9.

Other members of the squad are Christy Sañosa, Virvien Bejosano, Bea Ebriega, Shyryn Salazar, Bambi Zoleta, Joseph Arcilla, Dheo Talatayod, Patrick Mendoza, Adjuthor Moralde, and siblings Samuel and Sherwin Nuguit.

The Philippines has bagged three bronze medals at the World Championships coming from Josephine Paguyo (1995, Japan), Arcilla (2011, Korea), and Zoleta-Mañalac (2015, India).

"We're positive to perform well at the Worlds, especially since I and Princess won the bronze at the Sunchang Open and we came from a training camp," Zoleta-Mañalac said in an interview on Sunday.

She will see action in the women's doubles, mixed doubles and team events.

"We just have to stay healthy and maintain our fitness. We are careful to prevent injury since we're playing on a clay court, it's hard to move because the court is slippery. I'm also taking care of my ACL. That's my only concern the whole time we're at the training camp, tournament and going to the Worlds," she added.

The team went to South Korea for a three-week training camp on Aug. 9.

The women's team first went to Daegu before going to Sunchang City, where the men's team trained.

"The team is in high morale now because of the training camp and Sunchang Open results. Hopefully, we can convert it to wins and have a podium finish in this world championships," head coach Michael Enriquez said.

Other team members are assistant coaches Josephine Paguyo, Wenifredo De Leon and Mark Anthony Alcoseba, and physical therapist Mathew Tayson from the Philippine Sports Commission-Medical and Scientific and Services. (PNA)