World’s top 12 lead field in RP Open

Ten of the world’s top 12 players, including six in the women’s singles, banner a top-notch international field battling it out for badminton supremacy in the first Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships presented by PLDT Business Solutions starting March 1 at the Philsports Arena.

Wang Chen of Hong Kong, the world’s No. 3, Yao Jie and Athens Olympics silver medalist Mia Audina Tjiptawan of the Netherlands, ranked Nos. 5 and 6, respectively in the world, No. 8 Kaori Mori of Japan, No. 11 Cheng Shou Chen of Taiwan, and Malaysia’s world No. 12 Wong Mew Chew are expected to fight it out for the top $8,280 purse staked in the women’s singles which drew 29 players from 12 nations.

Meanwhile, tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets and are packaged in the following categories: March 1-3 Category 1 (P200); Category 2 (P150); Category 3 (P100); Category 4 (P50); Gallery (P10); March 4-5 Category 1 (P500); Category 2 (P350); Category 3 (P250); Category 4 (P150); Gallery (P20). For details call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or get online at: www.ticketworld.com.ph <http://www.ticketworld.com.ph/> .

Games will start at 2 p.m.

The $120,000 event, a four-star tournament sanctioned by the IBF and sponsored by Bingo Bonanza, JVC, PLDT and Smart., actually attracted 15 countries and close to 200 players who will be clashing for top honors in five divisions, including the men’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and the mixed doubles.

World No. 2 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia is the marked man in the men’s singles, which attracted 44 players fighting for the $9,600 first prize in the centerpiece event. Out to foil his bid are Korean ace Lee Hyun Il, ranked No. 5 in the world, No. 7 Hafiz Hashim of Malaysia and Ng Wei, the world’s No. 11 from Hong Kong.

Reigning world men’s doubles champions Tony Gunawan and Howard Back of the US are also in the fold, together with the world’s No. 1 doubles player Candra Wijaya who will be teaming it up with Flandy Limpele for Indonesia in their own side of the event which drew 24 teams.

Nineteen teams, led by SEA Games champions Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty of Malaysia, will vie for the top $7,320 purse in the women’s doubles, while the mixed doubles attracted 32 entries, including the world’s No. 1 Korean tandem of Lee Jae Jin and Lee Hyo Jung, No. 5 Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam of Thailand, and the 29th-ranked Filipino pair of Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion.

The other countries entered in the event, backed by Jam 88.3, 99.5 RT, Magic 89.9, 103.5 K-Lite, Wave 89.1, Snickers Chocolate, Toby’s Sports, The STAR, Badminton Asia, Inquirer Badminton, Fossil Watches, Bacchus Energy Drink, Accel, Yonex Sunrise, Crowne Plaza, the official hotel, and Solar Sports, the official TV partner, are Vietnam, Finland, Austria and Singapore.

Information: PBA, Badminton Hall, Rizal Memorial, c/o Joel Mabborang 926 5973222, e-mail [email protected] and [email protected] or www.philippineopenbadminton.com