CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Fourteen-year-old badminton athlete Raphaelle Dinara "Orange" Aguinea brought home a silver medal from the 13th World Chinese Youth Badminton Championship 2026 held at the A Plus 4 venue in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 2, 2026.
A mainstay of the General Santos City Batang Pinoy badminton squad, Aguinea teamed up with Malaysian player Hanz Yaw of Duo Sparks Malaysia in the Under-17 Mixed Doubles division. Fighting through a competitive international field at the A Plus 4 venue in Kepong, the cross-border duo fought their way to the championship round before yielding the gold to a formidable tandem from Taiwan.
For Aguinea, the podium finish in Malaysia marks another milestone in a rising career built on relentless training at the Rafa-Gensan Sports Center under local coach Bezalel Gaje. Supported by Protech Sports Philippines, her international campaign also featured on-court guidance from Malaysian coaches Daphne Ng and Sabrina Chong.
The trip to Kuala Lumpur was a family affair. Aguinea’s 11-year-old brother, Remiel Alessandri, also tested his skills against the region's best in the 12-and-under category, battling into the main draw quarterfinals in both boys' singles and boys' doubles.
Fresh off competing in the Yonex Singha BAT BTY International Juniors Badminton Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, the Aguinea siblings continue to gain valuable international experience—proving that General Santos City is fast becoming a breeding ground for Asia's next generation of badminton stars. (Dave Achondo, Editorial Assistant)
Raphaelle Dinara "Orange" Aguinea smiles on the podium after receiving her silver medal at the 13th World Chinese Youth Badminton Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 14-year-old athlete from General Santos City delivered an outstanding performance in the U17 Mixed Doubles category, marking a major milestone in her international badminton career. (Photo courtesy of Duo Sparks)
