MVP Cup 2 to again feature Top Players from Asia and Europe 06 June 2006 IMG today announced that the second edition of the MVP Cup—which is a selection of top players from Europe taking on a selection from Asia—will take place in Manila from July 14 – 16, 2006. The Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) and the European Badminton Union (EBU) will field All-Star teams to compete against each other for USD 100,000 in prize money—an increase from the USD 80,000 on offer last year. The event will feature an elite group of Asian players vs their compatriots from Europe in a unique format of matches over the 3-day period. The MVP Cup last year marked the first direct collaboration between 2 continental confederations in the sport of badminton; it is pitted to be an annual “Ryder Cup” type of event for the sport of badminton. The MVP Cup will once again officially be called, “The MVP Cup presented by PLDT and Smart” and is jointly organized by the Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC), the European Badminton Union, the Philippine Badminton Association (PBA), and International Management Group (IMG). PBA President, Mrs. Amelita Ramos thanked the organizers for holding this prestigious new event to the Philippines. “The Philippine Badminton Association is proud to be the host venue of the MVP Cup. The event brings a tremendous opportunity for the PBA to gain experience in staging a major international badminton event. We also hope that in seeing and competing against the world’s top badminton players, our National players and future stars will be inspired to increase their level of competition in the future.” Kennivic and Kennie Asuncion will be participating for the Asian team in the Mixed Doubles category. Similar to the IBF’s Sudirman Cup event, the MVP Cup is a mixed team competition featuring the top players from Asia playing against the top players from Europe. Each team will consist of the following players: 2 x Men’s Singles 2 x Women's Singles 1 x Men’s Doubles Team 1 x Women's Doubles Team 1 x Mixed Doubles Team However, one major difference between this event and the Sudirman Cup is that the MVP Cup will provide prize money, whereas the Sudirman Cup does not. This year’s MVP Cup will offer USD 100,000 in total prize money with the top team being awarded the largest prize in badminton, USD 60,000. The losing team will receive USD 40,000. As each team will consist of a maximum of 10 players, this prize will be quite significant. “Last year’s event proved that we can compete with the best in the world. Following our performance at the 4* Philippine Open last weekend, we feel we can once again help Asia to keep the MVP Cup this year,” exclaimed Kennivic Asuncion upon receiving word that he and sister Kennie will be representing the Philippines as Asia’s Mixed Doubles pair. In keeping with a Ryder Cup-style event, the format of the MVP Cup, also differs from any other badminton event in that there are points for each match which escalate in value as the event moves forward. There are a total of 9 matches, 3 on each day from July 14 – 16. Each match on the first day will be worth 1 point, second day 2 points and third day 3 points. This means that the 3 matches on the third day will be the key for each team in taking home the MVP Cup. On the 3rd day, there will be matches where the team captains can select players on that morning which will create major interest on the Final day. “We are allowed only 2 men’s and women's singles players on the team, however there are 3 men’s/women's singles matches; this means that we will have to carefully evaluate the play of our singles players over the first two days and field the one which we think is in better form for the all-important 3rd singles matches on the final day,” explained Team Captain of Asia, Bang Soo Hyun. Datuk Punch Gunalan, Deputy President of the IBF indicated, “The player field of the MVP Cup will be of such a high-quality that every match will be just like the finals of any other event.” Both teams are undergoing the process of confirming their players; those confirmed so far are as follows: Europe Asia Team Captain: Martijn van Dooremalen , Bang Soo Hyun Team Manager: Brian Agerbak , Pullela Gopichand Men’s Singles: Kenneth Jonassen , Taufik Hidayat Women's Singles: Mia Audina Tjiptawan , Wang Chen Mixed Doubles: Tomas Layborn/Kamilla Juhl , Kennie/Kennevic Asuncion “We are happy that the Philippines is the host of the MVP Cup on an annual basis. Last year we were treated well and the crowd was great. We hope that the Philippine public will give the event and its stars the outstanding support it has given badminton in the past,” indicated European Team Manager, Brian Agerbak. He added, “Our team is complete, but we’ll announce the remainder of our members in a week or two when the ABC announces theirs.” Last year’s event was action packed with the Asian Team taking a 3 - 0 lead on day 1 with wins from Zhang Ning over Mia Audina Tjiptawan, Taufik Hidayat over Anders Boesen and the Malaysian Men’s Doubles Chan/Koo over Robertson/Robert Blair from England. Day 2 saw Europe coming back within 1 point even though German #1 player Bjoern Joppien lost to world #1 Lin Dan, they had victories from Pi Hongyan of France over Seo Yoon Hee of Korea, and Mia/Gail Emms over Saralee/Sathinee of Thailand in ladies’ doubles to pull within 5 – 4. Europe took the lead on the final day with a mixed doubles victory by world #1 pair of Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms over local favorites Kennie/Kennevic Asuncion, but Asia proved too strong in the 3rd singles with Zhang Ning taking out Yao Jie of the Netherlands and Lin Dan beating Anders Boesen for an 11 – 8 final score. * * * * Issued by IMG Badminton on behalf of the 2006 MVP Cup presented by PLDT and Smart. Should you require more information, please contact Miss Princess Galura of IMG in Manila at +632 845 0162 (phone/fax
who are the other men's and women's singles players? Last year, Lin Dan and Zhang Ning also played for Asia. I hope Reiko Shiota and Kumiko Ogura will play WD for Asia this year
The MVP CUP 2006 has an ad today in PDI. It lists: ASIA Zhang Ning (WS) Wang Chen (WS) Lin Dan (MS) Taufik Hidayat (MS) Asuncion sibling's (MxD) EUROPE: Mia Audina (WS) Donna Kellog & Gail Emms (WD) Kenneth Jonassen (MS) Niels Christian Kaldu (MS) Michael Logosz and Rober Mateuziak (MD) From the ad I don't know who ASIA will pair up for WD and MD! And for EUROPE who will they pair for MxD. website's still down: www.mypad.net/mvpcup2006 - mela
Thanks for the updated info & hope they will have the website up and running soon...hmm, looks like a similar squad for both teams to last yr's, at least on the Asia side..
Schedule From: Pinoybadminton Forum Day 1 (July 14) Men's Singles Match 1 - Lin Dan vs Niels Christian Kaldau Women's Singles Match 1 - Zhang Ning vs Yao Jie Men's Doubles - Lee/Choong vs Logosz/Mateusiak Day 2 (july 15) Women's Singles Match 2 - Wang Chen vs Mia Audina Tjiptawan Men's Singles Match 2 - Taufik Hidayat vs Kenneth Jonassen Women's Doubles - Saralee/Sathinee vs Emms/Kellogg Day 3 (July 16) Mixed Doubles - Asuncions vs Laybourn/Rytter-Juhl Men's Singles Match 3 - Coach's Choice Women's Singles Match 3 - Coach's Choice Match to start at 4 everyday - Live on Channel 5 (local channel)
Emms and Kellogg in Europe-Asia clash GAIL EMMS, who is on BBC1's Question of Sport again tonight, has been selected with Donna Kellogg to represent Europe against Asia in the second MVP Cup in Manila from July 14-16. The European champions will face Thailand's Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sathinee Thoungthongkam in the Ryder Cup style tournament which carries a record prize fund of $100,000. Emms competed in mixed doubles in last year's inaugural event with Nathan Robertson in a contest won by Asia. The line-up is: EUROPE: Kenneth Jonassen, Niels Christian Kaldau (Denmark); Yao Jie, Mia Audina Tjiptawan (Holland), Michel Logosz & Robert Mateusiak (Poland), Gail Emms & Donna Kellogg (England), Thomas Laybourn & Kamilla Juhl (Denmark). Manager:Brian Agerback. Captain: Martijn van Dooremalen. ASIA: Lin Dan (China), Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia), Zhang Ning (China), Wang Chen (Hong Kong), Choon Tan Fook & Lee Wan Wah (Malaysia), Saralee Thoungthongkam & Sathinee Chankrachangwong (Thailand), Kennie & Kennivic Asuncion (Philippines). Manager: Bang Soo Hyun, Captain Pulella Gopichand http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/show_news.asp?section=000100010009&id=745&monthinview=2006/06/1
What a surprise, Gopichand is the manager for Asia...The only player from India who excelled in All-England.
Doesn't look too appealing for me My choice of matches (if all the players mentioned come) Day 1 MS Lin Dan vs Peter Gade WS Zhang Ning vs Mia Audina MD Fu Haifeng/Cai Yun vs Jens Eriksen/Martin Lundgaard Hansen Day 2 WS Xie Xingfang vs Pi Hongyan MS Lee Chong Wei vs Kenneth Jonassen WD Du Jing/Yu Yang vs Gail Emms/Donna Kellogg Day 3 XD Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir vs Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms MS Lee Chong Wei vs Peter Gade WS Zhang Ning vs Pi Hongyan
Probably during the time when the organisers in the process in selecting players. Now.. LCW have to be an MVP since he is WORLD #1 now. Btw latest news is that the Polish players might not be able to play since one of them got injured. Still in the process of getting a replacement.
I think the biggest absentee is Peter Gade, by far the best opposition for Asia's MS. Whether LCW is there does not matter at all. I also think the Asian team are trying to spread their players across nations. Only China has more than one entry. If LCW instead of Taufik, I think they will place an Indonesian pair instead of Lee/Choong. China - Lin, Zhang Indonesia - Taufik Hong Kong - Wang Chen Malaysia - Lee/Choong Thailand - Saralee/Sathinee Phillippines - Asuncion/Asuncion