World-ranked shuttlers begin quest in RP Open

Over 200 players from 17 countries start their hunt for fortune and ranking points in the $120,000 first Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships presented by PLDT Business Solutions unfolding today at the Philsports Arena.

World No. 4 Xu Huaiwen looms the player to beat in the ladies singles with the lone German bet expected to display her class act that netted her the Swiss Open crown last January and the European Championship last month before an expected big crowd and against an equally talented field.

Xu, the 31-year-old ace from Guiyang, China now based in Germany, won four straight titles last year — the Dutch Open, Bitburger Open, Finland World Grand Prix and the Belgian International — and is raring to match the feat with a win here and then hopefully in the Indonesia Open, a six-star tournament, slated the week after the RP Open.

A spirited battle for top honors among four of the world’s top 20 players is also on tap in men’s singles with No. 11 Hafiz Hashim of Malaysia, No. 13 Wei Ng of Hong Kong, No. 14 Beng Hong Kuan, also of Malaysia, and No. 19 Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand fancied to crowd for the top $9,600 purse if they play true to form.

"We are all excited that our talented local players are poised to get valuable experience as well as garner world-ranking points in this landmark event," said Albee Benitez, president and CEO of Bingo Bonanza during the press conference yesterday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. "We hope that our effort in sponsoring this event will lead to many RP Opens with the support of all those who have the same desire to keep badminton alive in the country."

The last-minute withdrawal of powerhouse China and Korea, which begged off to give way to their respective national opens, also made the chase for top honors in various divisions of this event, the first-ever four-star tournament to be held here, wide open.

"The Philippine Open will really help the development of local badminton. Through Bingo Bonanza, events like the RP Open will inspire the young players to achieve for a higher level of play," said James White, vice president for business development of IMG.

World No. 11 Mohd Tazari and Woon Fui Lin head the 20-team cast in the men’s doubles, which includes the tandems of Sudket Prapakamol and Phattapol Ngensrisuk of Thailand (No. 25) and Hendra Gunawan and Joko Riyadi of Indonesia (No. 26).

Games start at 2 p.m.

The Philippines is fielding in a full roster in the event, sponsored by Bingo Bonanza and JVC (PHILS.), Inc., including world No. 69 brother-sister tandem of Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion who will be out to foil the bid of the fancied Thai pairs of Prapakamol-Thoungthongkam and Songphon Anukritayawon-Voravichitchaikul, ranked Nos. 11 and 12, respectively in the world, in the mixed doubles.