Launched in 1999, the ranking system is put up to recognize the efforts of the Asian players and motivate them to dish out their best games. It is also designed to serve as a medium for developing seedings in the annual championships.
Players who finish No. 1 in their respective divisions from a series of qualifiers and tournaments will receive $1,000 plus a JVC product, according to the organizing International Management Group (img) and the sponsoring Japanese electronic giant JVC.
The incentive package is sure to further heighten competition in this year’s staging of the championships, which has attracted some of the world’s best players and which the country is hosting for the first time since 1969.
This early, the Chinese and the Indonesians have been fancied to slug it out for top honors in five divisions although they are expected to have their hands full against the rest of the 19-team field, particularly South Korea and Malaysia.
Chen Hong of China and Indon Taufik Hidayat lead the cast in the men’s singles, which offers $11,000 to the winner, while Zhou Mi and Gong Ruina, both of China, and Indons Atu Rosalina and Ellen Angelina are the top bets in the distaff side, which stakes $7,500 to the champion.
The five-day event, backed by Yonex, Manila Galleria Suites, 103.5 K Lite, 96.3 DW Rock, The STAR, will be telecast on IBC Channel 13 and NBN Channel 4.
Meanwhile, a photo contest will be held in conjunction with the event with the img putting up a P6,000 prize for the winner and P4,000 and P3,000 to the second and third placers, respectively.