Aces boost FDG cast

MANILA, Philippines - Toby Gadi and Bianca Carlos, the country’s current top-ranked shuttlers, headline the stellar cast in the FDG Cup Open and Invitational Badminton Championships set to fire off next week in a two-weekend tournament at Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati.

Defending men’s double champions and Team Phl/Smash Pilipinas mainstays Paul Vivas, Peter Magnaye, and runners-up Ronel Estanislao and Joper Escueta along with Ateneo’s Patrick Natividad and Justin Natividad are also joining the hunt in the premier men’s Open singles. Gelita Castilo, Danica Bolos, Jennifer Cayetano and Kristina Tan will crowd Carlos in the women’s side of the annual event slated June 14-15 and June 20-21.

The country’s aces will not only be clashing for cash prizes and trophies but also for ranking points, this being held as part of the Philippine National Ranking System (PNRS) of the Philippine Badminton Association in partnership with Smart Communications.

More importantly, the FDG Cup Open division, which also features the men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles, will also give players a shot to become members of the Smash Pilipinas badminton team.

The Open singles winners will receive P60,000 (men’s) and P40,000 (ladies), the men’s doubles winners P100,000, and the women’s doubles and mixed doubles champions P60,000 and P80,000, respectively.

Organizers of the annual event, held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go, a long-time supporter of the sport, have stretched the three-day event to a four-day affair with the centerpiece Open men’s, women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles for the elite players.