Top stars head field in JVC badminton

The cream of the country’s badminton crop will banner the 2003 JVC Open Badminton Championships which is also expected to draw the other enthusiasts of the fast-growing sport, including celebrities and corporate buffs, when it unfolds Aug. 25 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati.

The brother-sister tandem of Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion, many-time spearhead of the national team in various international competitions, head the crack field vying for top honors in various events in the week-long event that has generated so much interest since electronics giant JVC put up the tournament in 2001.

"We’re very happy to be at the forefront of this annual championship that has grown in stature and prestige, not to mention in terms of participation," said Toshinori Yokokawa, president of the sponsoring JVC Philippines, during the launching of the event yesterday at Dusit Hotel.

Others who graced the launch were the Asuncion siblings and other members of the national team, Philippine Badminton Association vice president and Dir. Gen. Edgar Aglipay, Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin and celebrities Hans Montenegro, Maritoni Fernandez and Patrick dela Rosa.

The organizing IMG is adding the 14-under division in the junior level, outside of the 18-under category, thus raising the events to be disputed to five and ensuring a record field in the tournament fast-turning out to be the spawning ground of badminton talents.

Other events on tap in the event, held under the auspices of the Philippine Badminton Association, are the veterans category (for players at least 35 years old), the celebrity division and the premier elite event.

To accommodate the expected big number of entries, IMG will hold a three-day qualifier starting Aug. 22 at the PSC Badminton Hall along Vito Cruz.

Registration is now ongoing (Nelson Asuncion at 0917-5288970 or IMG at 751-6751/52, 845-0162 (telefax) or email at [email protected] or visit the event’s website at www.jvcopen.com).

Deadline for listup is on Aug. 15.

A top purse of P15,000 is up for grabs in the singles event of the elite category with the winner in the doubles event set to receive P20,000. The first runners-up in both categories will get P10,000 each.

To spice up the event, IMG is putting up the corporate team event featuring the doubles and mixed doubles with a minimum of six players per team.

"IMG recognizes the need to give the sport a mainstream appeal and at the same time promote a healthy lifestyle among Filipinos," said Princess Galura, managing director of IMG, which also organized the successful staging of the 2001 and 2002 JVC Open Badminton Championships and the JVC Asian Badminton Championships.

Kennevic is out to reclaim the title he won in the inaugural staging from last year’s winner Ian Piencinanes while Kennie Asuncion is gunning for a third straight victory in the ladies singles of the elite category.

The event is sponsored by IMG, Philippine Badminton Association, Pioneer Insurance, Gosen, Alaska Milk Corp., GenTxt, Tokyo Tokyo, Accel, Ayala Center, I-Ayala, Rudy Project, K-Lite 103.5 and the Philippine STAR.

Meanwhile, the drawing of lots, together with the players and coaches’ meeting, will be held Aug. 18-19 at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig.