Aviva Open Singapore 2008
June 10 to 15
Singapore Indoor Stadium
Singapore

OLYMPIC-BOUND SHUTTLERS HEAD FOR AVIVA OPEN SINGAPORE 2008

Showdown between word’s top-ranking players expected at USD200,000 prize purse event

The Aviva Open Singapore will host some of the world’s top badminton talent next month as it kicks-off the 5th leg of the prestigious Super Series circuit. The tournament this year received more than 200 entries from competing nations, with the badminton fraternity’s heavyweights and Olympic qualifiers such as Peter Hoeg Gade (DEN), Taufik Hidayat (INA), Lee Chong Wei (MAS), Wong Choon Han (MAS), Xie Zhongbo and Guo Zhendong (CHN) confirming their participation.

Gade will be competing at the Aviva Open Singapore 2008 following his comeback at the Thomas Cup in Jakarta after a long bout of illness. One of the more notable names in the player line-up released today by the Singapore Badminton Association (“SBA”), he is looking to the Aviva Open Singapore 2008 as a platform for him to assess the competition ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.

Fans of Kenneth Jonassen (DEN) will be pleased to note his inclusion for the Aviva Open Singapore 2008. Having recently won the European Championship with the Danish team, he will be competing to extend his present run of form in the lead up to the Olympic Games.

Another favourite making his way to Singapore is the tournament’s current men’s singles title holder, Boonsak Ponsana (THA).

Indonesia will be represented by the likes of Hidayat, So nmwkejwjny Dwi Kuncoro and doubles pairs Markis Kido / Hendra Setiawan and Luluk Hadiyanto / Alvent Yulianto Chandra.

Malaysia’s hopes of winning the tournament rest on the shoulders of its Olympic qualifiers including Lee and Wong. The contingent will also see top-ranking doubles pairs Lee Wan Wah / Choong Tan Fook and Koo Kien Kiat / Tan Boon Heong competing for the men’s doubles title in Singapore next month.

Competing for India are Anup Sridhar and Sania Nehwal in the singles category.

Top players in the Aviva Open Singapore 2008 women’s category gracing the courts are Tracey Hallam (ENG), Petya Nedelcheva (BUL), Tine Rasmussen (DEN), Pi Hongyan (FRA) and Wong Mew Choo (MAS).

Another strong pair lending their names to the tournament is last year’s women’s doubles champion, Zhang Yawen / Wei Yili - the defending champions of last year’s Aviva Open Singapore’s women’s doubles category. Last year’s mixed double champions, Flandy Limpele / Vita Marissa are also expected to defend their title at the tournament.

Home grown talent Kendrick Lee has been preparing for the tournament next month. At last year’s Open, Lee proved his mettle by beating then world number three Chen Jin of China. Both Lee and teammate Ronald Susilo, also an Aviva Open Singapore 2008 participant, are in the running to represent Singapore at the Olympics in the men’s singles category.

Commenting on Singapore’s strong contingent for the tournament, he said, “The home crowd support at the Aviva Open Singapore has always been fantastic for the team. We are raring to go!”

Bolstering Singapore’s squad are Xing Aiying, doubles pairs Jiang Yanmei / Li Yujia and Hendri Kurniawan Saputra / Li Yujia.

Kelvin Ng, Chief Executive Officer of SBA commented: “The Aviva Open Singapore 2008 will play host to one of our strongest badminton line-ups yet. Packed with Olympic qualifiers and top talent from around the world, we can look forward to another exciting tournament at the Indoor Stadium. The sport has been growing positively and we are grateful for the immense support that our partners like Aviva, Cheers, Yonex Sunrise, Grundfos, Mazda and the Singapore Sports Council have pledged.”

Tickets for the Aviva Open Singapore 2008 are available through SISTIC www.sistic.com.sg as well as at all authorised outlets.

For more details on the Aviva Open Singapore 2008, please visit the official website www.singaporebadmintonopen.org.

Text Edited by Eugene Tang. Photograph Courtesy of AVIVA OPEN SINGAPORE 2008. All Rights reserved.