The Plot Thickens

The PLOT Thickens

- by Dan Rupinta

 

43 events in 11 categories

Over 1,700 entries

1,058 expected matches

Only 41 will become champions.

 

And there’s more.   It is also about Youth versus Experience.  Talented new-comers versus wily past champions.  And regional talents versus imperial Manila.

 

This is the plot of an intriguing 5^th year edition of the Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships which will be held at YPBC, Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City.   The tournament will run from November 22-30, 2008.

 

For the past few weeks and even months, players from all over the country have been training very hard to get themselves physically and mentally fit before the tourney starts.   For many, it meant grueling days of training & drills, hours of weight training in the gym and a well-planned nutrition program for some.  Whether they’re enough to make one a champion will remain to be seen but certainly, this has brought out the best of the best amongst of our current crop of badminton players. 

 

This year, we are arguably seeing the most competitive draw ever in the 5-year history of YSPNOBC.    Take a pick amongst the different events and you will most likely witness a star-studed 2^nd round match spectacle.    Will youth prevail over experience?    Will our past champions reassert themselves once again?     As many aficionados have said, a number of upsets are bound to happen.      “It’s very tough and I think having more than 2 events in the Open category will definitely be a big challenge and perhaps, a bit of risk”, two-time Open Men’s Singles Champion Lloyd Escoses remarked.     

 

The tourney will also be about the crowning of the best Badminton club or training camp and the regional battle for producing the best provincial talents.  Gone were the days where 1 or 2 big clubs reign supreme or only players hailing from Metro Manila emerge victorious.   A strong contingent from Butuan City, Iloilo City, Ilocus Sur, Nueva Vizcaya and Bulacan to name a few will pose a big threat to the dominance of the established badminton clubs from Metro Manila.

 

On the eve of tournament day 1, I have my own favorites and picks.   But I will keep it to myself for now.   Anyway, I will most likely be changing them as the tourney progresses and may just end up dead wrong.  

 

The 2008 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships is presented by YONEX-SUNRISE and co-presented by PHITEN.  This event is also brought to us by:  Badminton Hub, Sportshub, My Shaldan, Makati Shangri-la, BSI Medicated Spray, Fish Designs, Potraitme.net, Tacorific, Potato Corner and our official & exclusive print partner, The Philippine Star.    The tournament runs from November 22-30, 2008 at the YPBC, Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City