US players on the 3rd place poduim in the medal ceremony.The team defeated Mexico in the 3rd place match after losing to Brazil in the semi-final. From left to right, Kenneth Hui, Alan Shekhtman, William Cheung, Aston Khor, Anna Tang, Alena Wang, Cherie Chow and Christine Yang. (Photo courtesy of Allysa Khor)
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ictories one after the other showered the US junior players as they won 17 golds out of 25 individual events at the 2013 Badminton Pan Am Junior Championships held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The US players swept the U11 and the U13 events taking four golds in the U15, two golds in the U17 and one gold in the U19. In the fierce U19, the US players advanced to finals for all the categories, but came out with one victory in women’s doubles, with Cherie Chow and Christine Yang. Canada and Brazil each won two
events. In team competitions held prior to the individual events, despite a dominating performance in the group competition, the US lost to Brazil 2-3 in the semifinal. The US then came back to beat Mexico 3-1 to secure third place. “It was a crushing loss. We were so close to reaching the finals and came up short,” William Cheung, 19, one of the players, recalled. “But we didn’t just hang our heads. It was through this adversity that we grew stronger. We regrouped and came out together the next day not discouraged but determined to finish strong.”
Team gathering to compete. “Go team USA!” (Photo courtesy of Allysa Khor)
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