The JVC Asian Badminton Championships will not only provide the Filipino players the exposure they need to raise the level of their game but will also give local badminton a tremendous boost when it is staged Aug. 22-26 at the Philsports Arena.

“The event will be a good exposure for the Filipino players,” said Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) president and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos during the launching of the event last week. “But we hope the public will come and support them not only to boost their morale but also to help promote and popularize the sport.”

Local fans will be treated to a five-day showcase of world class badminton with fancied No. 1 doubles team of Gao Ling and Huang Sui of China, Sydney Olympics men’s double gold medalists Tony Gunawan and Halim Haryanto of Indonesia leading big field in the $150,000 event sponsored by the Japanese electronic giant JVC.

Event promoter, IMG, has selected IBC Channel 13 and NBN Channel 4 to jointly telecast the event as it falls in line with their commitment to support badminton and give the sport a mainstream appeal.  The two stations will broadcast a total of 20 hours of coverage throughout the week of the event.

 “In terms of skills, I think the Filipino players are equal with their foreign counterparts but they lag behind in experience since they (foreigners) play every month and that gives them advantage,” said Police Gen. and PBA executive vice president Edgar Aglipay.

Spearheading the local challenge are Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion, who won the men’s and ladies’ crowns and teamed up to romp away with the mixed doubles title in the recent JVCChampionships. The Asuncion siblings are currently training in China.

This week’s new international entries include major stars from throughout the region.  Defending JVC ABC champion, Taufik Hidayat, the #2 world ranked Indonesian player, has finally confirmed his entry in the event’s men’s singles category.  Malaysia’s hot men’s singles player, Lee Tsueng Seng, runner up at last week’s Indonesiaevent, will be accompanied by compatriot, Yong Hock Kin who was the 1999 Indonesiachampion.  Ellen Angelina, winner at last week’s Indonesia will play in the ladies’ singles category in Manila where she could see a rematch of the Indonesiafinal against Wang Chen of Hong Kong who is also entered in the JVC ABC.  Each week the organizers are confirming entries of more and more of Asia’s top players.

IMG, the world’s largest, most diverse and only truly global company dedicated to the marketing and management of sport, leisure and lifestyle, has ensured  the successful staging of the event in Manila.  IMG has promoted more than 50 world-class badminton events in the past 10 years alone and has the experience that will enable an exciting event.  This year’s event will also feature music and entertainment during the weekend matches, so make your plans to come to the Philsports Arena to cheer and dance!

The event, which the country is hosting for the first time in 32 years, is sponsored by JVC and backed by Yonex, Manila Galleria Suites, 103,5 K Lite, 96.3 DW Rock and The Philippine Star