Toshinori Yokokawa, president of the sponsoring JVC (Phils.), Inc., welcomed players, sports officials, guests and media during ceremonies held yesterday at the Manila Polo Club.
"We are honored to host for the second straight year this important event which was a success in its inaugural staging last year," said Yokokawa, who received a plaque of appreciation for JVC’s continued support to badminton during ceremonies also graced by Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit, PSC commissioner Cynthia Carrion and Philippine Badminton Association vice president Gen. Edgardo Alipay.
Yokokawa underscored that while his company is committed to manufacture quality home appliances, it also sees its social responsibility in the country where it operates.
"We have chosen sports as a way of expressing this commitment. We have sponsored football and other sports events in the past, and, in the Philippines, we are renewing our commitment to the development of badminton as a fun and competitive sport for all ages," he said.
He also expressed optimism the P128,000 tournament, staged by the Philippine Badminton Association, will exceed last year’s entries of over 300.
The week-long tournament is staged by International Management Group, a global sports marketing company with 100 offices worldwide, which had organized the Smart Mimosa Tiger Woods Challenge, the 1995 Johnnie Walker Classic, the San Miguel Super Dry Beach Volleyball Tournament, the 1996-97 Johnnie Walker Super Tour, the 1998 Brunswick Asian Tournament of Champions and the JVC Asian Badminton Championships held in Manila last year
Princess Galura, managing director of img Manila, said the country’s top players, led by former commissioner Amparo "Weena" Lim of the Philippine Sports Commission and top-ranked shuttlers Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion, have signified their intention to join the tournament, which is also supported by the Philippine STAR, Pioneer Allianz Assurance Corp., Yonex, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Accel, Tokyo Tokyo, 103. K Lite and Spurway Enterprises.
The qualifying rounds are set June 3-5 at the PSC Badminton Hall and the main draw June 6-9 at the Glorietta Activity Center
Events on tap in the Elite tournament are the men’s and ladies’ singles and doubles and mixed doubles, with eight entries to qualify for the main draw in each event. The juniors division will have competitions in boys and girls singles and doubles while the Veterans Division will be open to doubles competition only.
Inquiries: Ms. Mila Ducena (tel. no. 633-4858 or 631-1711 to 13) or visit WWW.jvc-badminton.com. or contact Agnes Atenta at 751-6752 for inquiries on the corporate invitational tournament.