TICKETS ON SALE AS WORLD’S BEST PLAYERS COUNTDOWN 2015 STAR AUSTRALIAN BADMINTON OPEN SUPERSERIES

Tickets are on sale today for the STAR Australian Badminton Open to be held at Sydney Olympic Park

in May.

The world’s best badminton players will once again converge on Sydney for the exclusive event, one

of only 12 events in the MetLife BWF World Superseries, when the competition hits off from May 26-

31.

The STAR Australian Badminton Open Superseries offers one of the most lucrative sporting prize

pools in the country, with US $700,000 up for grabs. It also gives athletes one of the first

opportunities to earn the world ranking points needed to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio in

2016. It’s a formula that ensures global interest for a competition that was broadcast to more than

300 million homes globally last year.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Troy Grant said, “I encourage

people to purchase their tickets now to see many of the world’s best badminton players go head-to-

head exclusively at Sydney Olympic Park this May.”

“The NSW Government is very proud to have secured the Australian Badminton Open through our

tourism and major events agency Destination NSW – an event that showcases Sydney to huge

audiences internationally, especially in Asia where the sport enjoys enormous popularity.”

Badminton Australia Board member and Tournament Director Loke Poh Wong said, “Badminton is

the second most popular sport in the world behind soccer, and is the fastest racquet sport in the

world. It has a huge profile in countries such as China, Malaysia, India, Korea and Indonesia – and

we’re pleased to see it growing in popularity in Australia. With internationally renowned players like

Lin Dan from China, and Saina Nehwal from India competing in 2014 we were able to put the

spotlight on badminton in Sydney and Australia.”

“The stars of badminton have a huge profile globally, and enjoy the relative anonymity that

competing in Australia brings them. In their home countries they are like rock stars. Lin Dan is a

Dolce & Gabbana model and ambassador, but when in Australia he can enjoy the sites of Sydney

without being mobbed. It’s a nice change of pace,” added Loke Poh.

Speaking of his time in Sydney at the 2014 Australian Badminton Open Superseries, two time

Olympic Gold Medallist and five-time badminton world champion Lin Dan said he enjoyed being able

to “sample some great seafood, taking as many photos as possible and walking down the streets.”