World No. 1 Lee due for FDG Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Local badminton players and fans get a rare chance to watch Malaysian Lee Chong Wei in action when the world’s top-ranked men’s singles player graces the FDG Cup 2011, National Open and Invitational Badminton Tournament slated July 1-2 at PowerSmash Badminton Center in Pasong Tamo, Makati City.

Lee, a two-time All-England singles champion who dominated the inaugural Indian Open Super Series recently, has confirmed his participation in the two-day event held by the business partners of Robinsons Land Corporation.

Several world-renowned players have actually lent prestige and honor to the annual tournament in the past, including the Korean national team headed by top mixed doubles players Lee Hyo Jung, and Taiwan’s top doubles players Cheng Wen Hsing and Chien Yu Chin. Lee’s visit is also expected to generate so much interest and at the same time further boost the popularity of the sport among Filipinos.

Lee, who has held the world’s top ranking for the last 18 consecutive weeks, will be joined in the exhibition games by fellow Malaysian ace Koo Kien Keat, currently the world No. 4 in men’s doubles with Boon Heong Tan. Koo has himself been on the No. 1 spot in the men’s doubles category many times in the past.

The duo will see action in the Invitational side of the event featuring employees and business partners of Robinsons Land Corp., which consists of the company’s suppliers, contractors, architects, designers and construction managers.

Focus will also be on the Open event featuring the country’s leading players and rising stars who saw action in the inaugural PBaRS (Philippine Badminton Ranking System) tournament as well as the top varsity players, trainers and enthusiasts.

Registration is ongoing with fee pegged at P800 per player. For details, visit the event’s website on [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> .

The Open tournament will feature three categories, the men’s doubles (64 entries) and women’s doubles (32) and mixed doubles (32) for a maximum field of 128 entries while competitions in the Invitational side include Classes A, B, C, D, E and F with a maximum of 32 players in each category.

Up for grabs in the Open is the top P160,000 purse in the men’s doubles while the mixed doubles and women’s doubles winners will get P100,000 and P80,000, respectively. The elims all the way to the quarterfinals for the Open will be held July 1 with the semis and the finals and the Invitational slated July 2.