Snowdan (fifth left), Ong (fourth right), Chew (left) signal their approval for the Multipurpose Indoor Arena with tournament officials and volunteers.
KUCHING: The stage is all set to host 1,900 shuttlers for the 26th World Masters Badminton Championship starting today until Sunday at the Sarawak Multipurpose Indoor Arena (existing Sarawak Lawn Bowls Arena) and the Sarawak Indoor Stadium in Petra Jaya.
Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan said Sarawak is ready to host this event which is being held outside China for the first time.
“The final preparations is almost 100 per cent completed except for some minor touches here and there.
“As the organising chairman, I would like to thank all the people who are working very hard to get this (Sarawak Multipurpose Indoor Arena) ready,” he told reporters after inspecting the venue yesterday.
Snowdan was accompanied by Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee and Sarawak Events management unit head of secretariat Lawrence Chew.
“Our initial plan was to build a Aerodome Stadium but due to the rising costs which reached RM12 million and the time constraint to set up the facility, we switched to Plan B which is to renovate this lawn bowls stadium into a multipurpose stadium with 20 badminton courts and some renovation works to the Sarawak Indoor Stadium with 10 courts that cost about RM3 million.
“These courts are according to Badminton World Federation (WBF) specifications and this place can accommodate 2,000 players,” said Snowdan, adding that they will be used to conduct 2,926 matches over the four days.
Malaysia are fielding the biggest number of 780 players followed by China with 645 and Chinese Taipei with 135.
Other participating countries include Indonesia (85 players), Hong Kong (50), Singapore (45), Australia (32), Thailand (26), Brunei (23), Japan (8), South Korea (9), USA (6), Canada (5), New Zealand (5) Sri Lanka (4), United Kingdom (3), Macau (3), Germany (1) and South Africa (1).
The categories to be contested are Combined Ages, Over 60 years old, 45-55 years old, 25-40 years old, Open and VIP.
Total prize money of about RM60,000 is offered for the Open category.
Snowdan also invited badminton fans to watch the matches especially as entrance is free.
Among the sideline attractions will be a friendly doubles match pitting Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah with former Indonesian great Taufik Hidayat against World China Badminton Federation president Wu Jun Yan and former Malaysian doubles ace Tan Boon Heong.
“Apart from that we are going to create a carnival-like atmosphere in this event by setting up stalls selling handicraft and other products as well as having food trucks around the venues.
“We are also providing physio, rehab and sports massage services at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre but those needing it will have to pay for it,’ Snowdan added.
Meanwhile, Wu also expressed satisfaction with preparations for the big event.
“This is the third time that I have visited Kuching. I am very satisfied with the venues. I was actually very worried that Kuching does not have a big badminton stadium.
“However, in two months, it was amazing that they have successfully transformed a lawn bowls stadium into a beautiful badminton stadium with 20 courts that meets the WBF specifications,” he said.
Wu added that such facilities will enable Kuching to also host other large-scale international badminton tournaments.