Taufik may yet make it to RP Open

The decision to move to a later date the much-awaited Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

For one, it would allow reigning Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat to heal his injury and join the $120,000 four-star tournament presented by PLDT Business Solutions.

Hidayat, the main endorser of the IBF (International Badminton Federation)-sanctioned event, sustained a knee injury recently and has actually begged off from participation in the RP Open originally slated March 1-5 until it was postponed due to the unstable political situation in the country.

Officials of the event, however, yesterday announced that the meet will now be played on May 24-28, still at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, a date which they said would allow more teams to compete and give the players more time to prepare.

"As everybody said, it could be a blessing in disguise since there could be other countries which might come in," said former First Lady Amelita "Ming" Ramos, president of the Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) in the PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila.

Hidayat, who also withdrew from this week’s All-England Championships, is expected to lead the charges of foreign bets along with the likes of the world’s top two men’s singles players Lin Dan of China and Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, No. 3 ladies singles player Wang Cheng of Hong Kong, Nathan Robertson, Gail Emms, Pi Hongyan and Mia Audina Tjiptawan.

PBA vice-president retired Gen. Edgar Aglipay, Bingo Bonanza president and CEO Albee Benitez and Princess Galura of the organizing International Management Group (IMG) accompanied Mrs. Ramos in the weekly public sports program.

Aglipay said the new playing date of the RP Open is actually sandwiched between three big badminton tournaments this summer — the Thomas Uber Cup to be held in Japan and the China and Singapore Opens.

"The schedule is favorable on our part since we expect the players to come straight here from the Thomas Uber Cup, after which, they can go and compete in the China and Singapore Opens," added Aglipay, who, in behalf of the PBA, extended his heartfelt thanks to the IBF for being able to squeeze at the last minute the RP Open to its busy calendar of events.

Despite the postponement of the event, Benitez said Bingo Bonanza wouldn’t stop from supporting badminton in the country.

"We’re committed to support the RP Open. Badminton is past gaining grounds in the country and Bingo Bonanza hopes to make a difference by extending whatever help we can," he said.

The Filipino shuttlers, who are expected to gain from this top-level tournament, will be bannered by the brother-sister tandem of Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion along with the likes of Paula Obanana, Irene Chiu, Karyn Velez, Raquel Guerrero, Paula Chan, Therine Chan, Rachel Guerrero, Lloyd Escoses and Rodel Bartolome, among others.