'Grand slam' plan to be okayed today
Source: Agencies |
March 13, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BADMINTON is set to take a big leap forward today on the road to a "grand slam" of three or four tournaments each year as part of its revamped Super Series.
The Badminton World Federation's executive board will meet to choose the hosts for the 12 Super Series tournaments from 2011, from a field of 16 countries.
Three or four of those hosts will then be selected in May as a premier Super Series with increased prize money, resources and exposure.
Darren Parks, the BWF's recently appointed events director, said in Birmingham: "It shares many of the principles of grand slam but we are very keen that it is not a case of there being a break in the structure.
"It is still a 12-tournament Super Series but there are three or four that are going to be identified as being the real leading lights.
"The focus will be on those so that there will be more support in terms of staff, a better package, a stronger TV package and the ambition will be to do that for all 12 but unfortunately, the resource just doesn't stretch that far.
"The idea is to upgrade and improve them all in terms of their TV production, engagement with the public, introducing players with on-court interviews, live draws and the kind of activity around a tournament that generates media interest."
The Super Series was inaugurated in 2007 with prize money of US$200,000 a tournament and US$500,000 in the season-ending finals.
Parks said the higher profile of the selected events would boost the whole series.
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