KUALA LUMPUR: The acclaimed Badminton World Federation (BWF) Superseries Finals, to be held here in Kuala Lumpur beginning Wednesday, will be a significant event in the lead-up to the much-anticipated 2014 Visit Malaysia Year (VMY).
Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Mirza Mohammad Taiyab said the tournament was part of the international events agenda of the VMY 2014, and Malaysia was proud to host the tournament for the third time.
“As Malaysians get ready for VMY 2014, our nation is primed to be the perfect host to welcome visitors from the world over to enjoy the endless array of events, happenings and wonders of Malaysia,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
He said hosting international events like the BWF Superseries Final, not only put Malaysia on the global sporting map but also created opportunities for economic and tourism activities in the country.
The BWF Superseries comprises 12 tournaments over the year, which began in South Korea in January, and then made its way through a host of other locations like India, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Denmark, France, Japan and Hong Kong.
The concluding finals, to be staged at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium in Cheras, promises a line-up of top international players who received the highest points in the BWF Superseries ranking, including home favourite world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
Among badminton stars to compete in the US$500,000 (RM1.6 million) tournament comprise Kenichi Tago of Japan, Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark) and South Korean men’s doubles player Lee Yong Dae, as well as from the national team, men’s doubles Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong and mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying. — Bernama