Paula Lynn Obanana
Event: Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles
Height: 5’ 3”
Weight: 118 lbs.
Birthdate: 1985
Birthplace: Dumaguete, Phillippines
Hometown: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Current Residence: Mountain View, Calif.
Coach: Rudy Gunawan and Howard Bach
Website: www.paulaobanana.net76.net/Default.php
Personal:
Paula Lynn Parrocho Obanana became a citizen of the United States of America in May 2011…She is the daughter of Paul T. and Nenita P. Obanana…She has one older sister Gizelle Lou P. Obanana who is engaged to be married to Nikko Cao-Hok…Her father Paul T. is an engineer and her mother Nenita P. is a professor…Paula graduated from Silliman University High School in Dumaguete City, Philippines in 2002…Participated in badminton (four years), soccer (three years), softball (two years) and volleyball (two years) while in high school in which she earned the honors of “Athlete of the Year,” “Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year,” “Most Promising Athlete of the Year” and “Most Valuable Player of the Year”…She graduated from De La Salle University, Taft in Manila, Philippines in 2006 with a degree in Mass Media…She competed in varsity badminton for her college all four years earning several honors including “Most Valuable Player 2002-2003,” “Rookie of the Year 2002-2003,” “Most Valuable Player 2004-2005” and “Most Valuable Player 2005-2006”…She contributed to the school’s victorious accomplishment for three years as Champion for what is known as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Games…She achieved the very rare feat of being named “Rookie of the Year” and “Most Valuable Player” for the same year, 2002-2003…Speaks English, Tagalog and Visayan…First emerged on the badminton scene in the Philippines in 1995 when she participated for the first time in the Philippine Junior National Championships and defeated the four-time champion…In 2000 she proved her prowess in internationally competitive badminton when she won three gold medal and a bronze medal in the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia…Was a member of the Philippine National Badminton Team from 1997-2005…Immigrated to the United States in 2006 with her parents and settled in the Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minn. area…Paula moved to northern California to pursue her dream of coaching and playing competitive badminton again…She helped coach the U.S. teams that competed in the 2009 and 2010 Pan American Junior Badminton Championship in Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, respectively….The team also went on to compete in the 2010 World Junior Badminton Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico…Competitively, she primarily plays women’s doubles on the Badminton World Federation circuit with 2008 U.S. Olympian Eva Lee…In her spare time she loves to sing, play the guitar, dance, watch movies, hang out with friends and go shopping…She is also interested in learning to play the piano…On her i-Pod she has Hillsongs, inspirational speeches, all of her favorite songs and memorable pictures…Says that she has a lot of favorite movies, but two that inspire her a lot and touched her emotionally were Soul Surfer, the Bethany Hamilton True Life Story, and Passion of the Christ…Her favorite television shows are CSI, GLEE, One Tree Hill and House…Lists her Mom and Manny Pacquiao as her role models…She admires her Mom for her strength, dedication, passion, hard work, motivation and love of her family and her work…Says that her Mom inspires her in everything she does…Says she lists Manny Pacquiao as one of her role models because of his drive and passion to reach his aspirations and for his humility and love for his country (Philippines) and most of all giving back to the creator of all things-God…She says that even though Pacquiao achieves a lot of things, he is still grounded and has never forgotten where he came from (Philippines)…When asked what makes her a unique and special person, she responded, “I’m just being me and that makes other people smile. My smile can capture a heart.”…Since receiving her U.S. citizenship in May 2011, she has focused on her Olympic dream…Says she once heard her mother say, “anyone can change our stars” and has taken that quote to heart intent on reaching her aspirations.
Competition Record:
2011 Results:
2011 United States Pan American Games Badminton Team Member
Brazil International Badminton Cup, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Gold Medal
World Badminton Championships in London, England, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Did Not Advance
Canada Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Round of 16
National Badminton League, Team Champion
U.S. Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Round of 16
Bay Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles A Division (Eva Lee), Gold Medal
U.S. Adult National Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Silver Medal
Peru International Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Round of 16
All England Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Did Not Advance
2010 Results:
Hong Kong Open Super Series Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Round of 16
China Open Super Series Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Round of 32
French Open Super Series Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Quarterfinals
Denmark Open Super Series Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Did Not Advance
Brazil International Badminton Cup, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Gold Medal
Brazil International Badminton Cup, Mixed Doubles (Nicholas Jinadasa), Bronze Medal
Japan Open Super Series Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Did Not Advance
U.S. Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Did Not Advance
Indonesia Open Super Series Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Did Not Advance
Boston Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles (Eva Lee), Silver Medal
Boston Open Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Silver Medal
U.S. Adult National Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Did Not Place
Dave Freeman Badminton Classic, Women’s Doubles, Did Not Place
2009 Results:
Miami Pan Am Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Miami Pan Am Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Bronze Medal
Summer Smash Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Silver Medal
Summer Smash Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles B, Gold Medal
U.S. Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals
U.S. Open Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Quarterfinals
2008 Results:
University of California - Davis Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
University of California – Berkeley Badminton Championships, Women’s Singles, Gold Medal
University of California – Berkeley Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
2006 Results:
Yonex Sunrise National Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Singles, Silver Medal
Yonex Sunrise National Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Yonex Sunrise National Open Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Silver Medal
University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP 2005-06), Singles and Doubles, Champion
68th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP 2005-06), Women’s Division, MVP
2005 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
JVC Interscholastic Championship, De La Salle University Women’s Badminton Team, Gold Medal
JVC Open Badminton Championships, Elite Master’s Doubles, Gold Medal
JVC Open Badminton Championships, Elite Master’s Women’s Singles, Silver Medal
23rd SEA Games, Philippines Team Member
University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP 2004-05), Singles and Doubles, Champion
67th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP 2004-05), Women’s Division, MVP
2004 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
Philippine National Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Singles, Silver Medal
Philippine National Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Philippine National Open Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Silver Medal
2003 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
22nd SEA Games in Vietnam, Women’s Singles, Quarterfinals
22nd SEA Games in Vietnam, Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals
22nd SEA Games in Vietnam, Team Event, Philippines Team Member
JVC Open Badminton Championships, Elite Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
JVC Open Badminton Championships, Elite Mixed Doubles, Silver Medal
Chinese Taipei Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Quarterfinals
Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships, Did Not Advance
65th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP 2002-03), Women’s Division, MVP
65th University Athletic Association Philippines (UAAP 2002-03), Women’s Division, Rookie of the Year
*UAAP Record Holder for being Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year
2002 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
World Badminton Academy in New Zealand, Participant – First Filipino qualified to participate
U.S. Open Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Quarterfinals
Proton Malaysia Open and Asian Junior Badminton Championships, Round of 16
Silliman University High School – Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year
2001 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
JVC Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Singles, Silver Medal
JVC Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Silver Medal
JVC Open Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Silver Medal
2000 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
4th Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Kyoto, Japan, Quarterfinals
Gosen Cup, Japan, Did Not Advance
Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, Women’s Singles, Gold Medal
Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, Women’s Doubles, Bronze Medal
Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, Team Event, Gold Medal
1999 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
Philippine National Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Singles, Silver Medal
Philippine National Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Silver Medal
Palarong Pambansa Badminton Championships (Philippines), Women’s Singles, Gold Medal
Palarong Pambansa Badminton Championships (Philippines), Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Palarong Pambansa Badminton Championships (Philippines), Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Women’s Singles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Golden Eagle Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Yangon, Myanmar, Philippine Team Delegate
1998 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
Badminton Philippine Centennial Championships, Participant
Thomas and Uber Cups, Asian Preliminaries, Philippine Team Member
Visayas National Open Badminton Championships (Philippines), Women’s Singles, Silver Medal
Visayas National Open Badminton Championships (Philippines), Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Mayor’s Invitational Games, Cebu City, Philippines, Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
Mayor’s Invitational Games, Cebu City, Philippines, Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-18 Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-18 Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-18 Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Centennial Palarong Pambansa (Philippine National Meet), Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
Centennial Palarong Pambansa (Philippine National Meet), Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Centennial Palarong Pambansa (Philippine National Meet), Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Centennial Palarong Pambansa (Philippine National Meet), High School Division, Athlete of the Year
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
1997 Results:
Philippine National Team Member
Philippine Junior National Team Member
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-16 Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-16 Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-16 Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Under-18 Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Under-18 Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Under-18 Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Philippine National Upper High School Badminton Championships, Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
Philippine National Upper High School Badminton Championships, Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
3rd Philippine National Games in Cebu City, Philippines, Women’s Singles, Gold Medal
3rd Philippine National Games in Cebu City, Philippines, Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
3rd Philippine National Games in Cebu City, Philippines, Mixed Doubles, Bronze Medal
Quicktight Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Singles, Silver Medal
Quicktight Open Badminton Championships, Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Quicktight Open Badminton Championships, Under-16 Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Silliman University Elementary School – Most Outstanding Athlete of the Year
1996 Results:
Philippine Junior National Team Member
Philippine Badminton Association – Most Outstanding Athlete
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-14 Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-14 Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-14 Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Local Government Unit (LGU) Badminton Championships (Philippines), Women’s Singles, Gold Medal
Local Government Unit (LGU) Badminton Championships (Philippines), Women’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Local Government Unit (LGU) Badminton Championships (Philippines), Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Under-12 Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Under-12 Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Regional Meet CVRAA Badminton Championships, Under-12 Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Palarong Pambansa (Philippine National Meet), Elementary School Division, Athlete of the Year
1995 Results:
Philippine Junior National Team Member
Philippine Badminton Association – Most Promising Youth Player of the Year
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-12 Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-12 Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
National Age Group Championships (Philippines), Under-12 Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Milo Little Olympics (Philippines), High School Division, Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
Milo Little Olympics (Philippines), High School Division, Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
Milo Little Olympics (Philippines), High School Division, Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal
Milo Little Olympics (Philippines), High School Division, Most Outstanding Athlete Award
*Paula was the only elementary school student participating in the high school division.
National Lower Elementary Student Badminton Championships, Under-12 Girl’s Singles, Gold Medal
National Lower Elementary Student Badminton Championships, Under-12 Girl’s Doubles, Gold Medal
National Lower Elementary Student Badminton Championships, Under-12 Mixed Doubles, Gold Medal