Record prizes at stake in FDG Cup badminton

MANILA, Philippines - Ten smart phones, 10 tablet computers and 10 40-inch TVs are but some of a wide array of prizes up for grabs in the raffle draw highlighting the grand staging of the 10th FDG Cup on June 28-30 at the Powersmash in Makati and Robinsons Place Manila.

Over 100 prizes will be raffled off during awards rites, 10 pieces for each item to underline the event’s milestone 10th year celebrations, according to the organizers of the annual tournament, long regarded as the premier badminton doubles event in the country.

While the elims and the quarters for the Open division will be played at Powersmash on June 28 and 29, and the semifinals and finals, along with the Invitational event (Classes A, B, C, D, E and F), at Robinsons Place Manila on June 30, the awards ceremonies will be held at the Century Seafood Restaurant of the Century Park Hotel in Manila.

Registration is ongoing. For details, contact 0932-8573431 c/o Glenn Encarnacion/Richard Bautista or email [email protected].

On tap are the centerpiece men’s, women’s and mixed Open doubles for the elite players along with the Partners Cup, which features employees and business partners of the Robinsons Land Corp.

Also serving as the highlight of the blue-ribbon event is the participation of Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Denmark’s Peter Gade, marking the first time in local badminton history that the current and former world No. 1 players will play before local fans.

Although they will see action in the exhibition side of the three-day tournament, their mere presence is sure to fire up the crowd and inspire local players vying for top honors in the event held in honor of RLC president Frederick D. Go, a long-time supporter of the sport and a badminton enthusiast.

The world No. 1 Lee, who racked up four victories in six tournaments halfway through the season, including the Sudirman Cup, India Open, Malaysia Open and the Korean Open, actually graced the event last year along with a pair of Indonesian aces while this marks the first time that the now-retired Gade, a five-time European champion who reigned as world No. 1 from 1998 to 2001, will be coming over.