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The biggest names in the sport of badminton, including Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, world champions Lin Dan and Zhang Ning of China and England's Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, are coming to Manila next month for a unique intercontinental team competition.
An all-star lineup of 10 players each from Asia and Europe have been formed by their respective mother organizations to dispute the MVP Cup, a blockbuster event being staged in honor of Manuel V. Pangilinan, himself a badminton buff who is head honcho of the sponsoring Smart Communications and its parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).
The MVP Cup, slated on July 12-14 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, is expected to draw global attention through its wide mileage being arranged by the International Management Group.
"This
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tournament exposes us to standards we cannot see and hopefully will inspire our national team members to become world-class athletes," said Pangilinan in yesterday's launch at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City.
Playing for Team Asia are Lin Dan of China and Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in men's singles, Zhang Ning of China and Seo Yoon Hee of Korea in ladies singles, Chan Choon Ming and Koo Kian Keat of Malaysia in men's doubles, Sathinee Chankrachangwong/Saralee Thungthongkam of Thailand in ladies doubles and the Philippines' Kennivic and Kennie Asuncion for the mixed doubles.
Team Europe will be represented by Bjoern Joppien of Germany and Anders Boesen of Denmark in men's singles. Mia Audina Tjiptawan of Netherlands and Pi Hongyan of France will be fielded in the ladies singles while Nathan Robertson and Robert Blair of England are taking the men's doubles challenge. Ladies Doubles bets are Tjiptawan and Yao Jie of Netherlands while the world No. 1 mixed doubles tandem of Robertson and Gail Emms of England will be a formidable foe for the Asuncions.
Aside from the MVP Cup, the winning team will share a $50,000 bonanza while the losing side settles for $30,000.
Also gracing yesterday's launch were Philippine Badminton Association vice president General Edgar Aglipay (Ret.), James White of IMG, Boy Martires, Ricky Isla and Julie Carceller of Smart.
Jong Arcano is an editor of Inquirer Badminton
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