15-19 April 2014, North Shore Events Centre
26 March 2014
Embargo applies until 6am Wednesday 26th March 2014
For release from the SKYCITY NZ Badminton Open, for further information visit www.nzbadmintonopen.com
Free to use editorial image of Simon Santoso attached.
FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE PLAYERS CONFIRM FOR SKYCITY BADMINTON OPEN
The SKYCITY New Zealand Badminton Open has scored a coup with two former world number one ranked players and a former
world number three all confirming entry for the April 15 – 19 tournament at the North Shore Events Centre.
The quality of play at the second SKYCITY New Zealand Open will be up with the best ever seen in this country, with
highlights sprinkled throughout the 240 players entered from 16 countries in the World Grand Prix status event, with
strong representation from badminton powerhouses Malaysia, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and Thailand in particular.
Tournament Director Julie Carrel says fans are in for a great week of badminton.
“I am thrilled at the quality and number of players entered across all events highlighted by the entry of former world
number one Lee Hyun Il (Korea) and former number three ranked Simon Santoso (Indonesia) in the men’s singles and the
amazing thought of former world number one men’s doubles star Koo Kien Keat (Malaysia) playing here in New Zealand. All
are hugely respected in the sport and bring a real touch of class to the tournament.
“Add to that we have the world number 8 mixed doubles pair Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthomgkam (Thailand) and
the world number 12 women’s doubles pair of Kunchala Voravichitchaikul and Duanganong Aroonkesorn (Thailand). There is
also good depth in each event though and these star players or combinations will not have it their own way by any
stretch, we are going to see some world-class badminton throughout the week.”
Also of interest is the return of Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito of Japan, who have not played internationally since
2012, both will add further depth and flair to the tournament and appeal to Japanese fans living in Auckland in a
tournament that strongly reflects the multi-cultural aspects of Auckland’s thriving Asian communities.
After New Zealand’s 72 players, Malaysia is the next largest representation with 40 players making the trip to Auckland
while Indonesia will provide 27 players in the draw, including Santoso who was top seed in 2013 when upset in the
quarter-finals.
While not as large in numbers, the strongest team in terms of likely seeds looks set to be Chinese Taipei with the Asian
powerhouse providing top ranked players in both singles and men’s doubles for the SKYCITY backed event. Final seedings
will be determined this weekend by the world body (BWF) based on the latest world rankings.
One of the dangers lurking in the men’s singles draw will be Arvind Bhat (India). While ranked 65 in the world, Bhat won
the recent German Open, regarded as one of the strongest Grand Prix Gold tournaments, defeating several players more
highly ranked than him to win including the current world number 15 in the final.
The New Zealand representation is a mix of the country’s very best player’s right through to the most promising juniors.
Joe Wu (Northland) is the highest ranked Kiwi in the men’s singles field that has well and truly exceeded capacity. A
total of 96 entries have been received for the men’s singles alone, with 88 positions available in the main draw and
qualifying, some will miss out on entry to the qualifying rounds.
In women’s singles Michelle Chan (Auckland) is a genuine albeit outside threat to win the title as the fourth highest
ranked player currently on the entry list, with Anna Rankin one spot behind at fifth ranked in the main draw with a
total of 13 Kiwis on the women’s singles entry list.
Susannah and Oliver Leydon Davis will fly the flag in the mixed doubles, the Waikato siblings will keenly await seedings
and the final draw which will be available on 1stApril, as one of the higher ranked combinations. Oliver will then pair
up with Kevin Dennerly-Minturn (Auckland) in the men’s doubles in another combination capable of upsetting their more
fancied international opponents in the search for vital world ranking points.
A number of New Zealanders as young as 15 have entered to gain vital international experience and to test themselves
against much higher ranked opponents as players seek to earn a place in the main draw through qualifying which starts on
Tuesday 15 April.
CLICK HERE for a link to the entry list for the SKYCITY NZ Badminton Open April 15-19
The final draw and seeding list will be confirmed by the BWF with details released next week.
ENDS