World Number One Doubles Pairing Headline Skycity NZ Open

World Number One Doubles Pairing Headline Skycity NZ Open Entry List

The SKYCITY New Zealand Badminton Open from March 22 to 27 has reaffirmed its position as a world class sporting event attracting a stellar field of world leading talent, including the world number one men’s doubles pairing of Yoo Yeon Seong and Lee Yong Dae from Korea who lead an array of top 30 ranked players heading to New Zealand shores.

With entries closing earlier this week, Event Director Julie Carrel couldn’t be more pleased with the entries from traditional powerhouses Korea, China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Japan and India. The entry list also features strong representation from the likes of Sweden, Russia, Vietnam and Australia as countries chase vital ranking points late in the Olympic qualifying window.

Carrel is ecstatic at the field of 248 players from 26 countries assembled to play in the Gold status Grand Prix event at the North Shore Events Centre.

“This is our showpiece event, our chance to put badminton in the shop window and on the radar of not just the traditional fans, but the wider New Zealand sporting community and wow, is this going to be some show! This is due partly to the SKYCITY New Zealand Open being one of the last major tournaments before Olympic qualification closes but also on the back of a great first-up Gold Grand Prix tournament last year.

“Unlike tennis, doubles and mixed can often be the most attractive events for the fans and without question both disciplines are loaded with the very best players the sport has to offer. In the Korean pairing of Yoo and Lee we have genuine global superstars coming to New Zealand that will light up the tournament and attract significant international media interest.”

SKYCITY Auckland General Manager John Mortensen says the SKYCITY NZ Badminton Open gets bigger and better, year after year attracting world-class players to Auckland City.

“We’ve been proud to be a part of the huge growth in popularity of Badminton, which has a loyal fan base here in Auckland and a massive international following – particularly across Asia.”

And with the SKYCITY NZ Open coming late in the Olympic qualifying window, the excitement is not contained to the men’s doubles though, with depth and quality across all disciplines of men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed competitions.

Korea provide many of the highest ranked players, including:

• Sung Ji Hyun (world #5 women’s singles)
• Jung Kyung Eun and Shin Seung Chan (#5 women’s doubles)
• Chang Ye Na and Lee So Hee (#6 women’s doubles)
• Ko Sung Hyun and Kim Ha Na (#4 mixed doubles)
• Kim Sa Rang and Kim Gi Jung (#7 men’s doubles)
• Ko Sung Hyun and Shin Baek Cheol (#9 men’s doubles)
• Son Wan Ho (#12 men’s singles)
Other players to watch for include:
• Sheng Siwei and Li Yinhui CHN (winners of Malaysia Masters GP 2016)
• Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa IND (#13 ranked women’s doubles)
• Angga Pratama and Ricky Suwardi INA (#10 men’s doubles)
• Yui Hashimoto JPN (#16 women’s singles)
• Vitali Durkin RUS (#22 men’s singles)
• Vivian Hoo Kah Mun and Woon Khe Wei MAS (#14 women’s doubles)
• Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying MAS (#13 mixed doubles)
• Miyuki Maeda and Reika Kakiiwa JPN (#11 women’s doubles)

With the first entry list submitted, there are 21 top 30 ranked players or combinations coming to New Zealand, promising a festival of world class badminton throughout the week.

Lee Yong Dae enjoys genuine ‘rock-star status’ in Korea and throughout Asia and will generate huge interest in the tournament, both live at the North Shore Events Centre and through international television and social media coverage.

Tickets can be bought online www.nzbadmintonopen.com or at the door, with prices from as little as $5 for an adult and $1 for a child through the early rounds through to equally family friendly pricing for finals action, including options of 6-day tournament passes and hospitality packages for courtside comfort and the best views in the house.
The SKYCITY New Zealand Open semifinals and finals are covered live on SKYSPORT in New Zealand and broadcast around the world through the IMG network.

SKYCITY NZ Badminton Open
North Shore Events Centre
Event schedule:
Tuesday 22 March - qualifying rounds, first round Men’s Singles main draw
Wednesday 23, Thursday 24 March - preliminary rounds all events
Friday 25 March - GOOD FRIDAY - Quarter-finals
Saturday 26 March - Semi-finals
Sunday 27 March – Finals
Tickets and further information at www.nzbadmintonopen.com

ENDS

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