Defending champs, world. No. 5 head men’s doubles cast in the RP open

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Albertus Susanto Njoto and Yohan Hadkusuma Wiratama
are back to defend the men’s doubles crown but the
talented Hong Kong tandem will have its hands full
against a field teeming with talent when the 2007
Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships is
played beginning July 18 at the Philsports Arena in
Pasig City, Metro Manila.

For one, Tony Gunawan of the United States and Indon
ace Candra Wijaya are in the fold with the world No. 5
pair expected to go flat out to live up to the hype,
thus adding another storyline to already
excitement-filled event which has so far drawn some of
the top players in the world.

China’s Chen Hong, the world No. 3 in men’s singles,
and Germany’s Huaiwen Xu and Pi Hongyan of France, the
world No. 5 and 6, respective in women’s singles, head
the star-studded cast in the $120,000 championship, a
BWF (Badminton World Federation) Grand Prix Gold event
sponsored by Bingo Bonanza for the second straight
year.

The RP Open, which also stakes world ranking points
and serves as an Olympic Qualifying tournament where
players shoot for important ranking points to qualify
for next year’s Olympiad in Beijing, has so far lured
24 countries, including China, England, Wales,
Slovenia, Russia, France, Switzerland, Canada, Iran,
Ireland, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Portugal, the US,
Germany, India, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Malaysia, 
Indonesia,Greece, Austria and Philippines with more 
expected to join in the coming weeks.

The organizing IMG is expecting close to 200 players
around 20 countries to compete in the event, which
also serves as the last major tournament before the
World Championships, thus making it a ‘must’ event for
those gearingBWF up for the world tilt.
Registration is now ongoing, according to IMG, which
has a wealth of experience in running top-notch
badminton events. For details, contact PBA at tel.
Nos. 632 303 1070; 632 3382431 or fax: 632 303 1070;
Email: joebm_13@yahoo.com.

Aside from the singles and the men’s doubles, other
events on tap are the women’s doubles and mixed
doubles.