FRESH OFF a silver finish with the Ateneo Women’s Badminton Team (AWBT) at the collegiate ranks, acclaimed shuttler Mika De Guzman bagged a bronze medal, alongside India’s Prerana Shet, in her return to the international stage in the Bahrain International Series 2024. The meet was held from November 12 to 17 at the Indian Club in Manama, Bahrain.

In the round of 16, De Guzman went face-to-face with Katrin Neudolt of Austria. Without breaking a sweat, the Atenean ace wiped the floor with her offensive onslaught of stellar smashes, leading to a clean sweep, 21-3, 21-8.

After advancing to the quarterfinals, De Guzman duked it out with Indian Yashvi Bhat for a spot in the semifinals. The opening set saw a nail-biting standoff before the Blue Eagle ultimately took care of business in a 21-19 finish. Now familiar with Bhat’s game, De Guzman read her opponent like a book, closing out the set in swift fashion, 21-8.

With a finals berth in sight, De Guzman faced Ranithma Liyanage of Sri Lanka in a high-stakes duel. The 235th world-ranked Blue Eagle encountered adversity against the 105th world-ranked Sri Lankan athlete after dropping the initial set, 11-21. Undaunted by Liyanage’s prowess, De Guzman stunned the Sri Lankan in the following set with a lopsided win, 21-8.

As the final set went underway, both players traded masterful blows that saw a tightly contested showdown last over an hour and eight minutes. However, De Guzman bowed to the efforts of Liyanage, 18-21, and ultimately obtained a bronze accolade from the tilt.

Sharing her thoughts on her performance and its significance for Philippine badminton, De Guzman stated that it is a testament to the potential and talent of Filipino shuttlers. “It shows that Filipinos can make a mark on an international stage. It proves that with hard work, passion and determination, we can compete alongside some of the best athletes in the world,” she expressed.

De Guzman’s performance has indeed served as a symbol of Ateneo’s excellence at the Taraflex. Transcending the University Athletic Association of the Philippines stage, the collegiate champion’s international stint has showcased how her game can translate to the highest level.