Shuttlers from 17 nations set for Malaysia Masters

December 17, 2016 

Karim (centre) flanked by Hii (left) and Chew at a press conference.

SIBU: Shuttlers from 17 countries will be taking part in the Victor Far East Malaysia Masters Badminton Championship 2017, to be held at the Sibu Indoor Stadium here from Jan 17 to 22.

The championship offers cash prizes totalling over RM500,000.

Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said top ranking badminton players were expected to converge on the new Sibu Indoor Stadium.

He added that the state was proud to host the prestigious event.

“It is organised by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and is part of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Grand World Prix Series,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Karim said the Visit Sibu Year 2017 programme would receive a major boost as the badminton event is expected to attract local and foreign fans to Sibu.

The last three days of the championship would be broadcast live on Astro, he added.

Also present at the press conference were Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee and BAM general manager Lawrence Chew Si Hock.

Five categories to be contested at the Malaysia Masters are men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Meanwhile, the tickets are priced at RM15 (adults) and RM7 (children) during the qualifying rounds on Jan 17; RM25 (adults) and RM12 (children) for quarter-finals on Jan 20 and semi-finals on Jan 21; and RM35 (adults) and RM17 (children) for the finals on Jan 22.

Season-tickets are priced at RM80.

“Tickets will go on sale in the first week of January,” Karim said.