Dutch duo spices up FDG Cup badminton

MANILA, Philippines – World women’s doubles No. 8 Selena Piek and Eejfe Muskens bring their class act here as they grace the 13th FDG Cup Badminton Championships, which unfolds tomorrow at Power Smash Badminton Center in Makati.

The Dutch aces, coming off a silver medal feat in the recent European Badminton Championships, are raring to showcase their skills and talent before local fans as they go up against Kennevic Asuncion, the first Filipino to qualify for the World Badminton Championships, and Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick G. Go in exhibition matches at Robinsons Place Manila on Sunday.

The 2014-15 winners of the Dutch National Badminton Championships also turned in a pair of runner-up finishes in the 2015 Canada Open and the recent Syed Modi International Grand Prix in India.

The Dutch duo’s presence is expected to generate interest not only from the competing players but also from badminton fans and enthusiasts expecting no less than a world-class act from the two aces.

The event has lured some of the world’s top players the past 12 years, including Malaysian Lee Chong Wei, Peter Gade of Denmark, former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat and Japanese ace Mizuki Fujii.

Meanwhile, women’s and men’s singles matches kick off hostilities at 9 a.m. tomorrow with Aldreen Concepcion clashing with Marinel Diansay, Sam Ramos colliding with Jochelle Alvarez, Ghiselle Bautista battling Meghan Cruz and former No. 1 Malvinne Ann Alcala testing the mettle of Jeline Masongsong and former national champion Bianca Carlos trading shots with Luisa Baldos.

Mark Alcala likewise opens his title retention drive in the men’s Open singles against Lawrence Palomer at 10:10 a.m. with No. 2 Kevin Cudiamat tangling with Lanz Zafra at 12:05 p.m.