Singapore Badminton Open returns from 6-11 June with top stars such as Loh Kean Yew
With bigger prize purse and Olympic qualifying points up for grabs, tournament promises to be fiercely fought
SINGAPORE — This year's Singapore Badminton Open will return to Singapore Indoor Stadium from 6 to 11 June, and fans will be able to catch top shuttlers such as local star and former world champion Loh Kean Yew.
Organisers said in a media release on Thursday (9 March) and this year marks the Open's upgrade from a Super 500 tournament to a Super 750 one on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour. It thus joins five other Super 750 events on the tour: China, Denmark, France, Japan and India.
All the top 15 singles players and top 10 doubles pairs in the BWF World rankings are required to compete at a Super 750 event. The total prize money for the tournament has also jumped from US$370,000 to US$850,000.
Furthermore, the Singapore Badminton Open is one of the first few events taking place during the 2024 Paris Olympics qualification period, which is between 1 May 2023 and 28 April 2024. With every shuttler gunning for a prestigious Olympic spot, it sets up to be fiercely-competed tournament in the city-state.
Olympic qualifying points are my focus: Loh Kean Yew
Loh, who is currently competing at the German Open in Mulheim, will be eager to make the breakthrough of becoming the first Singaporean to win the men's singles competition since Wee Choon Seng way back in 1962.
Last year, he came up short in the semi-finals, succumbing 17-21, 14-21 to an inspired Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia. This time around, Loh's priority is to focus on getting as many Olympic ranking points as possible, so that he can secure a chance to represent Singapore at the Paris Games.
“One of my biggest focuses for the 2023 season is to do well during the Olympic qualifying period, especially in Singapore Badminton Open as it is an honour to compete in front of the home crowd," he said in the media release.
"Representing Singapore in the Olympics will always be a great honour, and I’m focused on working towards that goal.”
Tickets will be on sale from Friday (10 March) via Ticketmaster. Fans can enjoy early-bird rates until 31 March, with early-bird specials ranging from $100 to $350 for season tickets.
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