By Jong Arcano
Inquirer News Service

ONE man's passion for feathers and strings has spawned a showdown of giants that will certainly put the country in the international badminton map.

The biggest names in the sport of badminton, including Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, world champions Lin Dan and Zhang Ning of China and England's Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, are coming to Manila next month for a unique intercontinental team competition.

An all-star lineup of 10 players each from Asia and Europe have been formed by their respective mother organizations to dispute the MVP Cup, a blockbuster event being staged in honor of Manuel V. Pangilinan, himself a badminton buff who is head honcho of the sponsoring Smart Communications and its parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

The MVP Cup, slated on July 12-14 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, is expected to draw global attention through its wide mileage being arranged by the International Management Group.

"This tournament exposes us to standards we cannot see and hopefully will inspire our national team members to become world-class athletes," said Pangilinan in yesterday's launch at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City.

Playing for Team Asia are Lin Dan of China and Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in men's singles, Zhang Ning of China and Seo Yoon Hee of Korea in ladies singles, Chan Choon Ming and Koo Kian Keat of Malaysia in men's doubles, Sathinee Chankrachangwong/Saralee Thungthongkam of Thailand in ladies doubles and the Philippines' Kennivic and Kennie Asuncion for the mixed doubles.

Team Europe will be represented by Bjoern Joppien of Germany and Anders Boesen of Denmark in men's singles. Mia Audina Tjiptawan of Netherlands and Pi Hongyan of France will be fielded in the ladies singles while Nathan Robertson and Robert Blair of England are taking the men's doubles challenge. Ladies Doubles bets are Tjiptawan and Yao Jie of Netherlands while the world No. 1 mixed doubles tandem of Robertson and Gail Emms of England will be a formidable foe for the Asuncions.
Aside from the MVP Cup, the winning team will share a $50,000 bonanza while the losing side settles for $30,000.

Also gracing yesterday's launch were Philippine Badminton Association vice president General Edgar Aglipay (Ret.), James White of IMG, Boy Martires, Ricky Isla and Julie Carceller of Smart.

Does anybody knows where I can get tickets?

Does anybody knows where I can get tickets?

For Ticketing info please call 8919999 if you are in the Philippines.

Ticket price is very reasonable (PHP500 for the best seats), unfortunately, the whole tournament is on weekdays, we are so busy these days at work that we work even on weekends. :crying:

I wonder if the tournament will be televised?

Ticket price is very reasonable (PHP500 for the best seats), unfortunately, the whole tournament is on weekdays, we are so busy these days at work that we work even on weekends. :crying:

I wonder if the tournament will be televised?

It will be televised live on solarsports.

It will be televised live on solarsports.

I have the Dream Satellite TV, we don't have solarsports. :crying:

Anybody wants to tape the event and sell me VCD's or DVD's?

Looks like we don't have to watch the MS after all :p

I think this is an easy win for ASIA team but still a must see for everyone in the Philippines. :D

Let's see :
Mia Audina vs Zhang Ning => Zhang Ning (1-0 Asia)
Anders Boesen vs Taufik Hidayat => Taufik (2-0 Asia)
Blair/Robertson vs Chan/Koo => Chan/Koo (3-0 Asia)

Pi Hongyan vs Seo Yoon Hee => Pi Hongyan (3-1 Asia)
Björn Joppien vs Lin Dan => Lin Dan (4-1 Asia)
Audina/Yao vs Saralee/Sathinee => Saralee/Sathinee (5-1 Asia)

Roberston/Emms vs Assuncions => Robertson/Emms (5-2 Asia)

Most probable score : 5-2 for Asia

Europe would need to win two more out of WS (Mia Audina), MD (Blair/Robertson) or WD (Audina/Yao) if they want to win.
Both asian MS will be untouchable!

The Asuncions are training hard out of country (out of Philippines). Hopefully they can take one set if not the game. :)

Hi Guys!

May I know the result of the MVP cup?

Thanks!

We are in June but it is supposed to start in July, right?

The MVP Cup, slated on July 12-14 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, is expected to draw global attention through its wide mileage being arranged by the International Management Group.

:D I going for shock wins for Boesen and Blair/Robertson

hahaha :D

I thought it was June hehe my mistake :eek:

Got my tickets already... the waiting is the hard part... :D

Well! Likely that you would be a wittness for the slaughtering.:cool:
I dont see any European MS other than Gade and Jonassen can beat Lindan and Taufik at least for this moment.

:D I going for shock wins for Boesen and Blair/Robertson

Got my tickets already... the waiting is the hard part... :D

See u there Pball. :)

ants, just curious, you are originally from where? Malaysia or?

Why you always travel across these countries?? what are you working as... ;)

ants, just curious, you are originally from where? Malaysia or?

Why you always travel across these countries?? what are you working as... ;)

Saya Anak Malaysia. :). Yes, i'm a Malaysian.

Just take this as a exhibition games and create interesting spicy story between Taufik and new team mate Lin Dan, may be these two will finally figure out the common language to communicate(English, fingers, hand signs ...) :D

Just take this as a exhibition games and create interesting spicy story between Taufik and new team mate Lin Dan, may be these two will finally figure out the common language to communicate(English, fingers, hand signs ...) :D
lol, common language huh? maybe,,,anyway, none of them can speak english at all? that must be a toughie

lol, common language huh? maybe,,,anyway, none of them can speak english at all? that must be a toughie

A little englishm, however they will only communicate thru their strokes and smashes. English? Hmmm like Chicken and Duck Talk ( Chinese Saying ).

Asuncions in tough Asia vs Europe task


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By noli cruz



FILIPINO SIBLINGS Kennivic and Kennie Asuncion will play a major role in Team Asia’s bid in the MVP Cup Asia vs Europe Badminton Championships slated on July 12-14 at the PhilSports Arena.



With the showdown between the two giant continents expected to go down the wire, the mixed doubles where the Asuncions are tapped to play could settle or complicate the outcome.

Their event is worth three points out of the possible 18.

But they would have an unenviable task of going up against England’s world No. 1 mixed double pair of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms.

The visiting duo won the silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics and recently ruled the Swiss Open and the prestigious All-England tournament. The English pair has also beaten the Filipino tandem before.

The other players in Team Europe are Bjoern Joppien and Anders Boesen (men’s singles), Mia Audina Tjiptawan and Pi Hongyan (women’s singles), Robertson and Robert Blair (men’s doubles) and Tjiptawan and Yao Jie (ladies’ doubles).

Leading the charge for Asia is world No. 1 Lin Dan of China. The 21-year-old lefty has won seven of the last 12 International Badminton Federation Grand Prix events he has played in.

It’s also riveting to note that Lin has lost only once to a European player.

Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia will also see action in the men’s singles for Asia.

World No. 2 Zhang Ning of China will take care of the women’s singles along with Korean Seo Yoon Hee.

Chan Choon Ming and Koo Kian Keat of Malaysia will play in the men’s doubles while Saralee C. and Sathinee T. of Thailand will see action in the ladies’ doubles.

To add more excitement in the event patterned after golf’s Ryder Cup, the tournament rule gives one point per match on the first day, two points per match on the second day and three points per match on the third and final day.

With three matches set per day, the inferior team would have a chance to at least salvage a draw on the last day of action.

The first day would have the first men’s singles, second ladies’ doubles and men’s doubles; the second day would have the second men’s doubles and first ladies’ singles; and the third day would have the mixed doubles, third women’s singles and third men’s singles.

Basically the Asuncions are not the fav to win the match-up. However it will be a great learning experience for them in the MVP Cup. I'm sure with the local crowd behind them , they will perform their best.

Basically the Asuncions are not the fav to win the match-up. However it will be a great learning experience for them in the MVP Cup. I'm sure with the local crowd behind them , they will perform their best.


I'm a Filipino but I believe that the Asuncion's have no match for the no.1 MD in the world. I hope I can watch all the games.

theStar

Nathan Robertson and Mia Audina will play double roles for Europe in the inaugural MVP Cup series, which is a three-day battle against Asian shuttlers in Manila from July 12-14.

Europe have finalised their team for the tie, which was revived by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in a bid to strengthen rapport among players from the two regions.

Englishman Robertson and his partner, Robert Blair, will play against Malaysians Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat in the men’s doubles.

For Europe, they can be sure of a point from the mixed doubles. Robertson will partner Gail Emms and the All-England champions and Athens Olympics silver medallist are heads and shoulders above the Asian pick – the Asuncion siblings of the Philippines, Kennie and Kennevic.

Holland’s Mia will play in the women’s singles and will partner China-born Yao Jie for the doubles.

For the men’s singles, Asia have world number one Lin Dan of China and Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in their ranks against Danes Anders Boesen of Denmark and German Bjoern Joppien.

The tie will be decided over nine matches – three each for the men’s and women’s singles; and one each for the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles.

The tie features three matches each day. The winners on the first day will get one point for the team.

The winners on the second day will contribute two points and three points will be given to the winners on the last day.

The champions will get US$50,000 (RM190,000) and the runners-up will pocket US$30,000 (RM114,000).

Hope this link helps

http://www.ticketworld.com.ph/showdetails.php?show=BADMINTON

Just take this as a exhibition games and create interesting spicy story between Taufik and new team mate Lin Dan, may be these two will finally figure out the common language to communicate(English, fingers, hand signs ...) :D

They do their talking with their racquets :p

In my opinion it'll be purely mathematics :) the only thing that they will talk about is who will play in final day? who ever got the better score will play in the Men's Singles of final day... :D

Just take this as a exhibition games and create interesting spicy story between Taufik and new team mate Lin Dan, may be these two will finally figure out the common language to communicate(English, fingers, hand signs ...) :D

but infact asia has always took the cup in every team tournament....
isn't it will be boring aswell.. since we know that the asian still to strong to be beaten by european in this momment? if you want to make it interesting make a group without any background but has same level of strengh.
let say we make groupd a and group b

A will be play by : taufik, zhang ning, Yuo jie,
B will be play by : lin dan, Zhou mi/ xie xiangfang, tina ramunsen

so it will be just for fun and but keep the balance....

Show starts in a few hours... wooohoooo!!!

Show starts in a few hours... wooohoooo!!!
See you there my man! :). Anyway the real game will start at around 7.

Most if not all badminton courts the next three days will be empty. ;)

See you there my man! :). Anyway the real game will start at around 7.

any chance for live streaming?

I'm really surprised that the MVP cup will be shown live in UK for the next three days ( on Sky Sports 2 ). Is it also shown live in Asia ?

its showing Live on Astro (Malaysia) 12/7-14/7 every night at 7.00pm for about 3 hours

and also, anyone have a schedule? of what matches will be played on which day.. then i can tape KKK/CCM in Action

All matches last night in the opening day of the 1st MVP Cup was won by the Asian Team! (Go Taufik!, Yo the man!)

Ladies Singles
Mia Audina vs Zhang Ning - 2-0

Mens Singles
Anders Boesen vs Taufik Hidayat - 2-0

Mens Doubles
Blair/Robertson vs Chan/Koo - 2-1


Robertson broke his Airblade tour when it clased with the Yonex racket of Blair! Argghhh!

Photos please ... :D

Guys,

send MVP to 299 (for Smart subscribers in the Philippines)
download pics from there (MMS, LOGO, PICMSG)

Sorry on my recent post on Europe vs Asia thread.
Didn't mention there that this service is only for those living in the Philippines
:D