BADMINTON ROUNDUP : San Diego High’s Monsavath Earns Singles, Doubles Titles

Somsack Monsavath, a junior from San Diego High, won two San Diego Section badminton championships, including his second consecutive singles title, Friday at the Federal Building in Balboa Park.

Crawford players, who won the section team tournament final last week over San Diego, took the three other individual-tournament titles.

Monsavath, No. 1-seeded in the boys singles, defeated No. 3 Thao V. Nguyen of Crawford, 15-11, 15-5, then teamed with Pheary Ly to win the mixed doubles crown, 15-1, 15-9, over No. 5 Hien Truong and Selina Siao of Serra.

Monsavath had defeated Thao V.’s brother, Thao M. Nguyen, in Thursday’s semifinals.

After his singles defeat, Thao V. Nguyen teamed with his brother Thao M. Nguyen to defeat Hoang Nguyen and Sy Liang of Mission Bay, 15-13, 15-9, for the boys doubles title.

The closest match pitted No. 2-seeded Tuyet Trong of Crawford and No. 1 Rattana Vongsaengkeo of Morse. Trong rallied to win, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7.

Crawford’s other siblings, senior sisters Tram and Kim Dang won the girls’ doubles title over Serra’s Siao and Kim Chau, 15-9, 15-5.

In addition to Monsavath’s consecutive singles titles, he was the runner-up during his freshman year in 1990.

Since the section began holding badminton championships in 1988, this was the first year Hoover was not represented in any of the finals.