Shan Clar and Susmita Ramos emerged as the Men’s and Women’s Singles Open champions of the 2026 MIA Badminton Challenge Cup after pulling off unexpected sweeps on Friday at the MIA Sports Center in Pasay City.
Clar and Ramos, both standouts from the University of the Philippines, defeated higher-seeded opponents to claim the top prizes in the tournament backed by Rally Sports, JPA Sports, Wilkins Pure, Minute Maid, and Playa de Nubla Private Resort.
Clar, the UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year and the country’s No. 12 player, needed just 28 minutes to turn back top seed and Philippine No. 4 Rabie Oba-ob, 15–13, 15–8.
“Since nag-start naman, ang iniisip ko talaga, hindi ko siya sineset lang sa ngayong laro, na every panibago siyang laro, panibago siyang feeling, maging present lang ako,” said the incoming third-year Fighting Maroon, explaining his mindset heading into the final day.
Now a champion, Clar hopes the victory will fuel him toward further success, particularly as he prepares to lead the UP men’s team in the upcoming UAAP competitions.
“Siguro sa mga susunod na tournament, hindi ko dapat isipin na nag-champion ako, kundi kung paano ko pa rin ‘to nakuha. Yung hard work pa rin at hindi nagkukumpiyansa,” he shared.
(C) Susain Palgue/MIA Badminton
Ramos, meanwhile, the incoming UP women’s team captain, needed 24 minutes to claim the Women’s Singles Open title at the expense of co-top seed and incoming sophomore teammate Brys Fuggan, 15–11, 15–13.
“Ang motivation ko po talaga is to get back to my peak performance po talaga, since last year it was a bad performance, especially coming from injury. I want na since malapit na ‘yung season, mapakita ko na prepared ako at ready to play for the UAAP, “ said Ramos, a former Smash Pilipinas member shared.
Ramos, who was part of the women’s team that secured a bronze medal for the Philippines at the 2025 SEA Games, emerged as the tournament’s biggest winner after also capturing the Women’s Doubles Open title with her UP co-captain Kimberly Lao.
The two Fighting Maroons seniors outlasted their teammates Anthea Gonzalez and Nikki Paz, 15–13, 8–15, 15–10, in 39 minutes.
Enzo Rivera and Krissa De Leon made it four titles for the Quezon City-based side after outlasting former National University standouts Mike Minuluan and Sarah Joy Barredo, 15–10, 15–10, in the Mixed Doubles Open final.
Mike Maratas and Nestojan Tapales captured the remaining Open title, taking the Men’s Doubles crown over UP-Allied’s Micheal Clemente and Rally Sports’ Neil Pineda, 16–14, 15–11.
Clar and Ramos pocketed P10,000 each and received gold medals, while the doubles champions also took home P10,000 apiece.
The runners-up received P5,000 and silver medals, while the remaining semifinalists earned P2,500 and bronze medals.
(C) Susain Palgue/MIA Badminton
In the age-group events, World Juniors Championships-bound Roaquine Ramos collected two crowns in the Boys’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles Under-18 events.
Ramos teamed up with Stephen Pantuan as the Philippine International Junior Series semifinalists outhustled Whackers Badminton Development Center’s Van Joel Lucas and Glihord Suladay, 21–20, 16–14, in the Boys’ Doubles final.
The 17-year-old upstart closed out the day with a 15–10, 15–11 victory alongside Enya Almazan over Louise Bernardino and Andie De Leon in the Mixed Doubles Under-18 final.
The tournament is far from over as it now shifts the spotlight to the masters level, with doubles events for the 30-and-above and 40-and-above age groups.
