Alcala advances to Italian final

FILIPINO shuttler Malvinne Ann Alcala put herself in a position for yet another international trophy as she defeated Isabella Nielsen of Denmark in three sets to reach the finals of the II Italian Junior Badminton International in Milano, Italy.

Alcala, who fell short of her title bid in the German Juniors International 2012 when she bowed to Korean ace Jang Mi Lee in Berlin last month, came back strong in the second set then sustained her form in the decider to pull off a 20-22, 21-11, 21-14 victory in 45 minutes.

The second-seed Filipina, back-to-back winner of the Singapore Youth International, goes for the crown against top-seed Anna Thea Madsen, also of Denmark at the Pala Badminton Arena.

Alcala, a two-leg winner in last year’s Philippine Badminton Ranking System four-stage circuit, drew a bye in the opening round then trounced Russia’s Natalia Rogova, 21-14, 21-14, in 20 minutes in the Last 32 phase. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio