Badminton biggies compete in Philippine Open

MANILA, Philippines – World champions and top international players will bring their act to the Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Grand Prix Badminton at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on July 1-5. According to organizers, Malaysia’s top player Lee Chong Wei and the pair of Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong will be back to defend their singles and doubles titles in the $120,000 event. Out to challenge them are Indonesian world champions Lilyana Natsir and Nova Widianto, China’s Zhou Mi and the pair of Chien Yu Chin and Cheng Wen Hsing. Zhou is the women's defending champion while her compatriots are the women's doubles defending titlists. Natsir and Widianto are the mixed doubles defending champions. Challenging them are campaigners from Korea, Vietnam and England, and other Chinese badminton upstarts. “We have invited many more players outside Asia so we’re expecting a really exciting event," Philippine Badminton Association president former First Lady Amelita “Ming" Ramos said Tuesday during the PSA Forum. Sadly, however, even Ramos is not expecting any Filipino to fight for the title. But because the event is a Graded Four-Star or Gold event, local players competing in the event can earn points that could land them spots in the 2012 London Olympics. “It will give our players a chance to get some points for the Olympics," said Ramos. Carrying the fight for the Philippines are veteran internationalists and siblings Kenny and Kennevic Asuncion. This will be the fourth edition of the tournament after giving way last year to the staging of the Beijing Olympics. –GMANews.TV