World ranking points staked in ’06 RP Open

The International Badminton Federation will sanction the RP Open next year, giving local shuttlers a chance to get world ranking points as in the case of the mixed doubles pair of Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion.

This was bared by Philippine Badminton Association vice-president Edgar Aglipay during Monday’s sendoff of the 16-man RP delegation competing in the 2005 Chinese-Taipei Satellite Badminton Championships at the Yulin Indoor Stadium.

"This is good news not only for Kennie and Kennevic but also for everyone who wants to get into the IBF world rankings," said Aglipay, who spoke in behalf of PBA president and former First Lady Amelita "Ming" Ramos.

The RP Open will be scheduled next year between the Korea Open in March and the Chinese Masters in April.

The Asuncions stand to benefit most from the staging of the RP Open since they can earn precious points to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The brother-sister tandem has recently moved up to No. 22 from No. 24 in the IBF ranking, due to their strong showing in the 2005 IBF World Championships at the Arrowhead Pond in Aneheim, California.

"Our players can also earn some points to make it to the Olympics," added Aglipay.

Kennie and Kennevic are also seeking to improve, if not match, their bronze medal finish in the mixed doubles in the 2003 Hanoi Southeast Asian Games—the first medal won by the country in the biennial meet—when the country hosts the 11-nation conclave this November.