FRESH from her triumphant campaign in Australia, Malvinne Ann Venice Alcala will lead the national badminton squad in the Philippine National Open-Ming Ramos Youth Camp badminton championships starting today at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Some 400 shuttlers from all over the country are expected to vie in the top-rated tournament designed to showcase the national aces’ improving form and discover fresh talents, according to Indonesian coach Rexy Mainaky.
Mainaky said the PH shuttlers have trained for two weeks under a tough regimen prepared by the former World, Olympics and Asian doubles champion player.
“They train very hard every day. They need to have very tough bodies and every thing starts from being physically prepared,” said Mainaky, who mentored the Malaysian team for eight years before setting off to “a challenging job” of steering PH badminton to world-class status.
The organizing Philippine Badminton Association has also refurbished the Badminton Hall at the RMSC and provided the national squad food and training supplements.
Also seeing action in the five-day tournament, sponsored by Victor/PCOME, Binggo Bonanza, Sun Cellular and the Philippine Sports Commission dangles a total cash prize of over P500,000, are PH shuttlers Ariel Magnaye, Jofer Escueta, Ronnel Estanislao and Paul Vibas.
Former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, also the former PBA president, will grace the opening ceremony at 8 a.m. today, along with PBA head and Vice President Jejomar Binay, PBA chair Manny V. Pangilinan and secretary general Rep. Albee Benitez.
Alcala won the gold medal in the recent 2012 Lin-Ning Australian juniors internationals held in Madelay, Western Australia. She beat Indonesia’s Setyana Florencya Mapasa, 22-20, 21-10, in their final that lasted just 32 minutes.