Skyline’s #1 singles player came up short in the state championship final on Saturday, May 11.
Sophomore Anna Nguyen lost to De Anza College’s Sheung Wi “Pinky” Li in the C.C.C.A.A. Badminton Singles Championship.
Nguyen qualified into the tournament as the #3 ranked player, out of eight total players from the North Coast Conference, behind Li (#1) and Evonne Zheng (#2) from C.C.S.F. The tournament lasted from Friday, May 10 to Saturday, May 11 and took place in Pasadena, California
Nguyen defeated Kim Jonatan from Fullerton College in straight sets of 21-12, 21-12. Nguyen then beat Darby Duprat in the next round, the #1 ranked player from the Pacific Coast Conference. She beat Duprat with a score of 21-10, 21-11.
On the next day of the tournament, Nguyen faced off against Angie Ortiz from Pasadena Community College, the defending State Champion. Ortiz eliminated Nguyen during the 2012 championship tournament. On Saturday’s match-up, Ortiz won the first set, 21-17. During the second set, Ortiz once led with a score of 16-7 but Nguyen mounted a comeback and outscored Ortiz 14-2 to take the set, 21-18. Nguyen won the third set with a score of 21-17 that catapulted her into the final against Li.
Li had not lost a set or given up more than 11 points to any player throughout the season. That all changed when she faced off against Nguyen.
Nguyen lost the first set against Li with close score of 21-17. Nguyen would go on to lose the second set, 21-11, and Li was crowned champion.
Even though she lost, she was impressive during her run. She earned Finalist medal for her work. “It was the best two days of badminton I’ve seen Anna play,” said Jan Fosberg, the badminton head coach. “She made fantastic shots and never gave up. I’m very proud of her effort and her accomplishment.”
Nguyen was very good this past season. “Anna was a very strong performer,” said Fosberg. “She dominated most of her opponents. [She] took the number two seed (Evonne Zheng) to three sets the both time they played, and scored more points against Pinky Li (eventual State Champion) than anyone else. She peaked at the State Championships with a very gutty performance throughout.”
The badminton team finished the season with a 3-5 record, playing in the tough North Coast Conference. “The team performed well. Our conference was very strong,” said Fosberg.
Nguyen is returning to Skyline in the fall.
“We hope that she can find time to help at practice as well,” said Fosberg.
