Reid-Grether tandem a force to reckon with in RP Open badminton

MANILA, Philippines - The combination of Charmaine Reid of Canada and Nicole Grether of Germany looms as one of the bets to reckon with in the women's doubles event of the third Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships which start Wednesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The Reid-Grether tandem has produced a title during the Bahrain International Challenge last December and a semifinal finish in the Austrian International last January. But the team suffered a Last-32 defeat in the Swiss Open recently, making them more dangerous as they try to regain their lost momentum in the doubles event. Fans can also witness the two players vie for honors separately in the singles event, where Reid is seeded No. 8 and Grether No. 1. The two are expected to fight for the title against the event's top seed and the world’s No. 2 rated player Zhou Mi, who is defending her crown. As a pair, Reid and Grether will be facing tough challenges from the Indonesian tandem of Meiliana Jauhari and Shendy Iwarati, the doubles' world No. 8 and the top-seed in the 23-squad event. Jauhari and Iwarati reached the Final Four of the Malaysian Super Series last January and penciled quarterfinal finishes in the recent Swiss Open and Korea Super Series. Similarly expected to contend for the title are the Chinese duo of Wei Yang and Jiewen Zhang, runner-up in the Malaysian Super Series last January. The Chinese pair posted semis finishes in the Asian Badminton Championships and Korea Super Series. Representing the Philippines in the women's doubles event of the $120,000 tournament are the pairs of Gelita Castillo and Malvinne Alcala and Fatima Cruz and Emily Gali. The local bets are looking to post podium finishes and gain world ranking points that would help them qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV