National Open badminton: Gadi, Castilo heavy picks

MANILA, Philippines—Reigning singles champions Antonio Gadi and Gelita Castilo are back to defend their respective titles in the 2011 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships slated Nov. 19 to 27 at the YPBC Club in Mandaluyong.

Gadi and Castilo face a host of top challengers from top badminton clubs in Metro Manila and the provinces.

Clubs headed by Golden Shuttle Foundation, JLTC, Whackers Badminton Academy (WBA) of Laguna and the MSI Juniors of Malolos, Bulacan, will also compete for honors in the event presented by Yonex and Juego.
Last year’s Open ladies singles runner-up Bianca Ysabel Carlos and the returning Open men’s doubles champions Jaime Junio and Alfredo Mailon Jr. and doubles specialist Melvin Llanes are also expected to see action.

This eighth annual Yonex-Sunrise PH tournament is expected to attract 1,700 entries.

Titles will disputed in the Open category, juniors (U-9 to U-19), seniors (19-above, 30-above, 40-above) and intercollegiate categories.

The qualifying stage, round of 64, round of 32 and round of 16 are scheduled on Nov. 18 to 24 while the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be held starting Nov 25.

The tournament’s past champions include Olympian Weena Lim, the 2004 Open ladies doubles champ, and Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion, the Open mixed doubles champions in the 2004, 2005 and 2008 editions.

A total cash prize of P500,000 is at stake in the week-long tournament.