MANILA, Philippines – The Indonesian pairs of Bona Septano and Mohammad Ahsan, and Rian Sukmawan and Yonathan Dasuki are the favorites to win the men’s doubles crown in the 3rd Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships.
But expect a tough challenge coming from world No. 16 Wan Wah Lee and Tan Fook Chong of Malaysia when the tournament starts on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Wan and Tan are currently ranked eighth and 10th in the men’s singles world rankings.
The Malaysians were actually the favorites to win the event but their top doubles players composed of defending champion Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, and Tazari Mohd and Latif Abdul failed to play in the tournament because of previous commitments.
Koo and Tan are currently the world’s No. 3 doubles team while the pair of Mohd and Abdul is ranked fifth.
Then of course there are the Chinese who are always considered to claim podium finishes.
China’s Zhiben Chen and Ye Shen are expected to contend for the title in the $120,000 event while another Indonesian pair, Alvent Chandra and Hendra Gunawan, is also ready to challenge for the top prize.
The Philippine campaign rest on the shoulders of Andrei Babad and Peter Magnaye, and Paul Vivas and Ronel Estanislao.
Tickets can be bought at P300, P200, P150, P100 and P50 for the first three days and P500, P400, P300, P200 and P50 in the final two days.
