RP bets chase ranking points in Open

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Karyn Velez and Irene Chiu set out as the two RP bets
in the tough ladies singles event as they lead 34
other Filipinos chasing world ranking points in the
second Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton
Championships which gets going July 18 at the
Philsports Arena in Pasig City, Metro Manila.

The 17-year-old Velez, who used to dominate the junior
category of the JVC Open, and Chiu, 22 and a legal
management graduate of Ateneo, reached the second
round in the inaugural staging of the RP Open last
year but both are expected to improve on their showing
this time.

But the Filipino duo will have their hands full
against a field teeming with talent, led by world No.
4 Xu Huaiwen of Germany, No. 6 Pi Hongyan of France,
No. 11 Mew Choo Wong of Malaysia, No. 12 Eriko Hirose
of Japan.

Thirty-four Filipinos, including 20 in the singles
events, go in pursuit of world ranking points as they
slug it out with some of the world’s top players in
the event, a Grand Prix Gold tournament sanctioned by
the International Badminton Federation and organized
by IMG.

The Asuncion siblings – Kennie and Kennevic,
meanwhile, are all geared up for another crack at the
mixed doubles crown of this event sponsored by Bingo
Bonanza Corp. after they lost last year’s title to
Thais Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthangkam.

Veteran internationalist Kennevic Asuncion heads the
local bets’ bid in the men’s singles also filled with
talents such as China’s world No. 2 Chen Hong, No. 3
Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, No. 6 Bao Chunlai of China,
No. 8 Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark and reigning Asian
Games and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of
Indonesia, back in the top 10 at No. 9.

Others eyeing to get past the qualifying on July 17
and hoping to get the most out of their exposure in a
tournament of this magnitude are Lloyd Escoses,
Christopher Flores, Andrei Babad, Ian Mendez, Wally
Fernandez, Alfredo Mailon, Kelvin Ang, Mark Natividad,
Wilmer Frias, Melvin Llanes, Ronel Estanislao, Paul
Vivas, John Robert Ner, Roden Villanueva, Kevin
Panganiban, Benjamin Gadi and Jobert Co.

Ten local pairs are hoping to make it to the 32-team
main draw in the men’s doubles side of this event, led
by the Amahit-Escoses tandem and the pair of Ian
Piencenaves and Jaime Junior Jr. Other tandems
competing are Mailon-Frias, Gadi-Co, Ang-Babad, Melvin
and Jaime Llanes, Owen Lopez-Bryan Chan,
Estanislao-Vivas, Ner-Roden Rivera Jr. and Reczon
Salvaleon-Jimson Dionisio.

Chiu is also set to see action in women’s doubles with
Therine Chan, while Raquel will team up with sister
Rachel Guerrero and Kennie Asuncion renewing her
partnership with Indon Wang Lili in the event backed
by Snickers, Solar Sports (official broadcaster),
Holiday Inn Galleria Manila and The Richmonde
(official hotels) and Victor, exclusively distributed
by Pcome Industrial Sales, Inc. and held under the
auspices of PBA.

This year’s field drew 31 countries, doubling last
year’s roster but the total number of players in the
fold – 317 – has tripled the cast in last year’s
inaugurals, underscoring the tremendous interest
generated by the event not only in the region but also
throughout the world following the participation of
England, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Italy,
Denmark, Ireland, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland,
Wales, Austria, France, Portugal, Canada, and the
United States.

Other countries participating are China, Hong Kong,
India, Iran, Indonesia, Vietnam, Chinese-Taipei,
Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand,
Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.