MANILA, Philippines - The country’s leading shuttlers and upcoming stars from the junior ranks make up the banner roster competing in the Ming Ramos-Victor National Open, Youth and Corporate Badminton Championships which gets going Dec. 27 at Club 650 and PSC Badminton Hall at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Malvinne Ann Venice Alcala and Joper Escueta head the chase for top honors in the centerpiece Open division of the event, the country’s premier badminton championship organized and conducted by the Philippine Badminton Association, affiliated with the Badminton World Federation and the Badminton Asia Confederation.
The BAC will actually send personnel to observe the conduct of the event in line with the badminton body’s program of holding the SEA BAC training camp in the country next year.
“The event aims to seek more potential players who could be tapped, trained and developed to become members of the national team,” said PBA president and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, who cited the Filipino players’ remarkable performances in recent international tournaments.
That includes Alcala, who reached the main draw of the tough Hong Kong Super Series two weeks ago after humbling Malaysia’s top singles junior player Lydia Li Ya Cheah and Hong Kong’s Ngan Yi Cheung, making the 15-year-old talent the player to beat in her age division and in the Open category.
The tournament, which offers a total prize fund of P300,000 plus over P400,000 worth of equipment from Victor, features five age-group classes, including Under-19, Under-17, Under-15, Under-13 and Under-11 for the boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles events.
Others tipped to see action are Ariel Magnaye, EJ Boac, Cassandra Lim, Nikki Servando and 11-year-old talents in Mark Shelley Alcala and Aira Mae Albo.
For listup and details, contact PBA at (632) 303-1070 or (+63) 915-5357015 or email joebm_13@yahoo.com and philippineba@gmail.com.