San Diego Section Badminton Playoffs : Lam Adds Two More Titles to His Collection

Binh Lam of Hoover High School returned to a familiar setting Monday afternoon and won another two titles.

Lam won the San Diego Section boys’ singles individual badminton championship and teamed with Kim Lai to win the mixed doubles’ championship at the federal building in Balboa Park.

Lam, a junior, has won three consecutive San Diego singles championships. However, it is his first official San Diego Section title because this is the first time since the late 1970s that the San Diego Section has sanctioned varsity badminton. His last two titles came at the city championships.

Lam and Lai defeated Phoupheth Kettavong and Lori Lynch of Patrick Henry, 15-9, 15-8, for the mixed doubles’ championship. Lam beat Patrick Henry’s Amphayvanh Khounnoraj, 15-1, 15-1, for the singles title.

“The singles championship means a little more,” said Lam, who practices at the federal building nearly every day in the summer. “I like singles better.”

Despite the lopsided score in the singles’ match, Lam said he had no trouble concentrating.

“I play more against myself--I try not to make unforced errors, and I concentrate more on trying to take advantage of my opponent’s mistakes,” Lam said.

Said Hoover Coach Debbie Orndoff: “Binh really focuses in on what he wants to do. He sets goals for himself, and he works.”

Lai missed a chance at a second title when she and partner Hanh Hoang lost to T.J. Lanuzo and Nhu Truong of Serra in the girls’ doubles final, 15-3, 15-8.

Tranh Dang of Crawford defeated Truong for the girls’ singles championship, 11-2, 11-6.

The best match of the day was between two Patrick Henry teams for the boys’ doubles championship. Second-seeded Vanxay Phomvong and Khonephet Souvannarath defeated top-seeded Kettavong and Mang Insixiengmay, 6-15, 15-8, 15-11.