PAN AM Individual Champs 2012 – Sweet triple for Alex, Derrick

Alex Bruce and Derrick Ng from Canada come back from Peru with three gold medals around their necks – each adding mixed and doubles to their team gold – while Kevin Cordon won after already helping block a Canadian sweep in this 17th edition of the Pan American Individual Championships, held in Lima.

By Raphael Sachetat. Photos (live): rights reserved.

“I was just so relieved and satisfied to win our first Pan Am Championships, said Derrick Ng after winning his third gold.  “Adrian and I have missed our chances before and it just feels so great for us to finally come through. I hope it’s the start of something good for the next 4 years.”

Derrick Ng could certainly be happy about his performance this week as the Vancouver-ased shuttler managed to get past his seven matches of the Pan Am Individual champs dropping only one game before ensuring gold in both men’s doubles with Adrian Liu and mixed with Alex Bruce.

In the men’s doubles, the last match of the day, the Canadians left no chance whatsoever to Brazil’s Paiola and Alex Yuwan Tchong with a 21-9, 21-9 victory, but the latter should rejoice about their silver medal – a rare treat for the future hosts of the 2016 Olympics.

Alex Bruce was the other big winner of the day, with another set of medals to be won for the Olympic semi-finalist, who was playing this time with Phyllis Chan as Michelle Li was still recovering from a foot injury. Chan and Bruce beat their compatriots Tsai and Ko, 17-21, 21-17, 21-12.

Phyllis Chan enjoyed this gold medal only days after thinking of quitting the sport: “This was such an emotional match for me. I had many up and downs the past two months that pushed me to debating whether to quit badminton. In fact, I did not want to go back to Peru at all after getting robbed two years ago. My mom had told me before that I had to confront my fears and before I knew it, I was on a plane on my way to Peru,” she shared on her Facebook page.

Kevin Cordon took the men’s singles event.  The top seed from Guatemala had a smooth week in Peru, but had to fight hard against Cuba’s Guerrero in the first game of the final.  Meanwhile, Christin Tsai made it four for Canada in the women’s singles, beating USA’s Jamie Subandhi in straight games 21-16, 21-19.

Final results
MS: Kevin Cordon (GUA) beat Osleni Guerrero (CUB)  22-20 21-10
WS: Christin Tsai (CAN) beat Jamie Subandhi (USA)  21-16, 21-19
MD: Adrian Liu / Derrick Ng (CAN) beat Daniel Paiola / Alex Yuwan Tjong (BRA) 21-9, 21-9
WD: Alex Bruce / Phyllis Chan (CAN) beat Joycelyn Ko / Christin Tsai (CAN) 17-21, 21-17, 21-12
XD: Derrick Ng / Alex Bruce (CAN) beat Phillipe Charron / Phyllis Chan (CAN) 21-5, 21-6

All results HERE