MANILA, Philippines?The Country?s Best Young shuttlers see action anew in the sixth staging of the Toby?s Youth Badminton Championships later this month.

Players aged eight to 18 battle it out for honors in six age groups while an invitational competition for high school and college teams is also on tap.

About 1,000 players from across the country saw action in last year?s event and Toby?s Sports is confident of topping the number as organizers assure a bigger and better tournament this year.

Eliminations for the 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18-under age categories are set on Oct. 25 to 31 at West Drive Badminton Center in Pasig City with the finals slated Nov. 14 to 16 at SM Megamall Atrium A.

The draw and coaches? meeting is on Oct. 18 at La Salle Green Hills.

The tournament has enabled players to gauge their progress against the nation?s best, while providing schools and the national pool a source of fresh talents.

?Sustaining the popularity of the sport and the steady flow of young talents has been our objective from the beginning,? said Toby?s Sports vice president for operations Toby Claudio.

?On our sixth year, Toby?s Sports YBC is bigger and better. With all the badminton players from around the country participating in this tournament, we are motivated as this gives more exposure and experience to our future national players.?

The championships also allows parents to veer away from the usual duties of cheering and coaching their kids.

Entry forms are available at all Toby?s Sports outlets and online at www.tobys.com. Entry fee is P200 in the age group, P350 for the parents? event and P2,000 for each team.