19 Dec 2012

NZ Badminton Open back with big backing

7:25 pm on 19 December 2012

The New Zealand Badminton Open has been resurrected as part of a three-tournament swing through Oceania, thanks to a naming rights sponsorship from Sky City.

The event, to be held in Auckland next April after it was cancelled this year due to lack of funding, is a Badminton World Federation Grand Prix tournament worth US$50,000 in prize money.

It follows on from the Australian Badminton Open in Sydney - a Grand Prix Gold tournament - and precedes the Tahiti International.

It's expected to attract 350 players from 20 countries around the world including players from badminton strongholds such as China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, India and Europe.

The New Zealand Badminton Open is highly likely to be televised offshore but is not as yet confirmed for local TV broadcast.