By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

It’s all systems go for the first staging of the Sen. Alan Seid Badminton Challenge slated on Saturday and Sunday (May 5-6) at the Palau High School Gym.
A total of 45 players have already registered but the organizing Palau Badminton Club is still expecting more interested individuals to join the two-day event held in commemoration of Senior Citizen’s Day.
Proceeds of this event will go to the Peleliu Old Age Center.
PBC’s Allan Tuppil said this badminton for a cause event is aimed to put together a tournament that would promote the community the game of badminton and honoring the senior citizens of Palau.
He said that this is built on friendship and competition that will hopefully inspire local athletes to indulge into this Olympic sport.
The tournament is open to both women and men. There are five categories to be contested -- men’s doubles, ladies doubles, mixed doubles, men’s singles and ladies singles – for beginners, intermediate and advanced.
Entertainment and freebies will be offered to all participants.
Anyone is invited especially the senior citizens to come and join the fun.
Civic Action Team CAT 04-29- will assist in the tournament and will set up a table for their doctor to offer blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.
All players who will participate will receive Budweiser T-shirts from Shimbros.
The tournament is co sponsored by, Taiwan Embassy in Palau, Mingles ToToTo, Del. Jonathan Isechal, Western Union, Shimbros, Belau Tourism Association and Palau Pacific Resort.
Registration fee is $5.00 per player, and $3.00 on other categories.
Individuals who have no partners for the doubles are encouraged to attend and will be partnered with some of the teams seeking for players.