Escoses, Amahit off to world badminton tiff

Three doubles entries from the Philippines are set to test their mettle against the best in the world in the World Badminton Championships slated Aug. 13-19 at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

Bannering the country’s participation in the tournament are world-ranked men’s doubles pair of Lloyd Escoses and Arolas Amahit Jr., who are seeing action on opening day against England’s David Lindley and Chris Langridge, ranked No. 41 in the world.

Also in the tournament are the country’s top mixed doubles pair of Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion, and the ladies doubles team of Paula and Therine Chan, who gained a wild card in the tournament.

The World Championships is the highest-ranked individual competition (BWF Events) aside from the Olympic Games badminton event and is strictly by invitation.

“We’re very excited to join this prestigious tournament. For me, it’s a step closer to my dream of playing in the Olympics,” Amahit said.

Amahit and Escoses last saw action in the recent Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open, bowing to their Vietnamese rivals in three sets.

“We know we’ll be up against tough competition but we promise to give our best,” Escoses said.

Focus, however, will be on powerhouse China.

Top seed Lin Dan, who won the recent China Open against Malaysia’s Wong Choong Hann, is tipped to contend for the men’s singles crown along with other fancied bets Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia and Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia.

Defending men’s doubles champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng also start as favorites, having won three straight titles in a row.

Like women’s singles top seeds Zhang Ning and Xie Xingfang, the top four seeds in the women’s doubles are all from China – Zhang Yawen and Wei Yili, Gao Ling and Huang Sui, Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen, and Yu Yang and Du Jing.

Among Europe’s top entries to the tournament are the mixed doubles pair of Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson and Danish singles player Peter Gade-Christensen.