Smart Badminton Asia kicks off

MANILA, Philippines — Top-notch badminton action returns as the star-studded Smart Badminton Asia Championships blasts off today at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

High-ranking and bemedalled players from all over the continent and upstarts from host Philippines take the floor in the six-day event, which for the first time will have a World Super Tour 1000 Tournament classification.

Under this upgraded level, winners gain 12,000 Badminton World Federation ranking points while runners-up net 10,200. The semifinalists, meanwhile, bag 8,400 while quarterfinalists get 6,600. Round-of-16 finishers take 4,800 while Round-of-32 qualifiers notch 3,000.

Team Philippines carries a modest goal in this competition, the players’ first since the pandemic broke out in 2020.

“This is the first tournament for the players so this is a good start considering they have the opportunity to play against the top players in the world, gain some experience and gain some points,” said the Philippines’ Malaysian coach Rosman Razak.

Carrying the fight for the hosts are Ros Pedrosa and Jewel Albo in men’s singles, Jaja Andres and Mika de Guzman in women’s singles, and Lea Inlayo and Susmita Ramos in women’s doubles, Christian Bernardo and Paul Pantig in men’s doubles and Alvin Morada and Thea Pomar in mixed doubles.

The high-level competition should serve the Filipinos well as they gear up for the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi next month.

“Malaking bagay ito para sa amin sa preparation namin sa SEA Games kasi high-caliber players ang makakalaban namin,” said Albo.