California Community Colleges
Commission on Athletics
Women's Badminton Championship

Singles/Doubles Championships

May 10, 2003
Pasadena City College

EL CAMINO'S AKIYAMA WINS STATE INDIVIDUAL SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP, DOWNING RULAN YEH, 11-3, 11-5

Experience won out in the end for El Camino sophomore Minako Akiyama as she won the individual singles title at the California Community Colleges Commission on Athletics Badminton Championships at Pasadena City College May 10.

Akiyama, not among the top four seeds entering the tournament, displayed her all-around skills and captured the singles championship by defeating Irvine Valley freshman and No. 3 seed Rulan Yeh, 11-3, 11-5, in the finals match.

An accounting major who moved to the United States two years ago, Akiyama scored six straight points to take game 1. She played nearly error-free badminton in game 2 as Yeh hit seven unforced errors. Akiyama trailed 5-3 before scoring eight consecutive points to seal the match.

"Minako was playing against a younger, quicker opponent, but she used her experience to dominate rallies and force Yeh to make mistakes," said El Camino Coach John Britton.

Akiyama, who turns 22 next month, knew what she had to do in order to win the title.

"I imagined I would have to play both the Yeh twins before the tournament," Akiyama said. "I worked hard and tried to use what I remembered from playing them in (earlier season matches). I pretended I had stamina and stayed focused."

Akiyama downed Rulien Yeh on May 9 in the quarterfinals, 11-7, 11-0. In Saturday's semifinals, she cruised past De Anza's Erica Lin, 11-0, 11-1. Rulan Yeh swept Skyline's Gina Gomez, 11-5, 11-4 to set up the final.

The No. 1-seeded Yeh sisters captured the individual doubles title by sweeping De Anza's team of Lin and Liz Nguyen, 11-3, 11-0. The Yehs were equally dominating in outscoring opponents, 88-14, in four total match wins. Lin-Nguyen made it to the finals with an exciting 11-7, 8-11, 11-3 win over Irvine Valley's Jennifer Chiu and Suzanne Wong.

In the consolation singles final, Pasadena's Sally Chan won a marathon over teammate Carmen Smith, 11-9, 8-11, 13-12. The host school's team of PCC's Molly Chang and Annie Tang also won the consolation doubles title by defeating LA City's Susie Kudelova and Francisca Leiva, 11-7, 11-2.

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES
Semifinals
Minako Akiyama (El Camino) d. Erica Lin (De Anza), 11-0, 11-1; Rulan Yeh (Irvine Valley) d. Gina Gomez (Skyline), 11-5, 11-4
Finals
Akiyama d. Yeh, 11-3, 11-5

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES
Semifinals
Rulan Yeh-Rulien Yeh (Irvine Valley) d. Ratsamy Sophabmixay-Sameoun Rom (Fresno), 11-3, 11-5; Erica Lin-Liz Nguyen (De Anza) d. Jennifer Chiu-Suzanne Wong (Irvine Valley), 11-7, 8-11, 11-3
Finals
Yeh-Yeh d. Lin-Nguyen, 11-3, 11-0

CONSOLATION SINGLES
Semifinals
Carmen Smith (Pasadena) d. Molly Chang (Pasadena), 11-6, 8-11, 11-9; Sally Chan (Pasadena) by forfeit over Phyreak Tan (El Camino).
Finals
Chan d. Smith, 11-9, 8-11, 13-12

CONSOLATION DOUBLES
Semifinals
Susie Kudelova-Francisca Leiva (LA City) d. Vy Doan-Khanh Nguyen (Santa Ana), 11-4, 11-6; Molly Chang-Annie Tang (Pasadena) d. Elaine Liang-Cindy Ton (Pasadena), 11-4, 11-9
Finals
Chang-Tang d. Kudelova-Leiva, 11-7, 11-2

Reported by Robert Lewis, PCC SID