Ong (third left) and Sim holding a replica of the ticket for VFEMM while (from left) LEA Sports Centre senior operation manager Poh Siok Hoon, Sarawak Plaza operations manager Margaret Peter and LEA Sports Centre general manager Poh Hoon Siok look on during the press conference.
KUCHING: Tickets for the much awaited Victor Far East Malaysia Masters (VFEMM) badminton championship will be on sale from tomorrow (Jan 1) onwards at all LEA Sports Centre retail outlets in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu.
LEA Sports Centre have been appointed as one of the ticketing agents for the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Level 3 event that will be held at Sibu Indoor Stadium along Jalan Teku from Jan 17-22.
This was announced by Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee at a press conference at Sarawak Plaza shopping complex yesterday.
“Badminton fans and enthusiasts especially those living in Sibu should not miss this highly ranked tournament which is sanctioned by BWF, organised by Badminton Association of Malaysia and hosted by Sarawak Badminton Association with the cooperation of the Sibu District Badminton Association and local authorities,” he said.
Ong, who is the event’s co-chairman and also director of the Sarawak State Sports Council, said Sibu was chosen as the venue because its new RM35-million indoor stadium was the official venue for Sukma XVIII.
“The total prize money for VFEMM is US$120,000 (approximately RM530,000) and Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair of Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem, who are the Rio Olympics silver medallists, as well as the mixed doubles pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying, also Rio Olympics silver medallists, will be coming,” added Ong.
He noted that top shuttlers from India and South Korea have also signed up for the championship.
Five categories namely men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles will be contested, with the preliminary rounds set on Jan 17-19, quarterfinals on Jan 20, semi-finals on Jan 21 and the finals on Jan 22.
LEA Group of Companies managing director Raymond Sim said LEA Sports Centre felt proud to be once again appointed as
one of the ticketing agents for the BWF Grand World Prix Series event.
According to him, badminton is one of the leading sports in Malaysia and hoped that LEA Sports Centre’s support and commitment towards the VFEMM will help promote the sport in the state.
“We have become one of Sarawak Badminton Association’s valued partners for years and we have been always fully committed in promoting local sports such as football, tennis, futsal, badminton, swimming and cycling,” he added.
Also present at the press conference were Sarawak Plaza operations manager Margaret Peter, LEA Sports Centre general manager Poh Hoon Siok and senior operation manager Poh Siok Hoon.
Meanwhile, admission to the competition is free on Jan 17-18 while the price of tickets for Jan 19 is RM15 for adults and RM7 for children, for the quarterfinals and semi-finals (Jan 20-21) it is RM25 for adults and RM12 for children.
The tickets for the finals will be sold at RM35 for adults and RM17 for children.
Season tickets are also available at RM80 per person.
LEA Sports Centre outlets in Kuching are at Wisma Hopoh shopping complex, Sarawak Plaza shopping complex, CityONE Megamall and Kuching Sentral while in Sibu they are at Sarawak House, Giant Sibu, Wisma Sanyan and Delta Mall.
The outlets in Bintulu and Miri are ParkCity Shopping Mall and Bintang Megamall respectively.
Enquiries can be directed to 082-418912.