New Zealand Open Badminton Championship
The globally recognised top ten squash players declared their positive attendance to the New Zealand Open championship come August 9-16. This news comes as a welcomed announcement to avid squash fanatics as the New Zealand Open is recognized to be one of the most attended squash events in the world.
This year, the New Zealand Open will be held in Mt. Maunganui. This year’s event is highly anticipated as it is the revival of the international sporting meet after fourteen years at bay. The 2010 New Zealand Open will be headed the Natali Grainger of the United States who is also the crowned No. 2 in the world and a heavy user of squash accessories. The line up also includes Natalie and Rachael Grinham who have taken the third and fourth ranks correspondingly. England’s Jenny Duncalf, who ranks fifth, Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy who rank’s seventh, Ireland’s Madeline Perry on the eighth spot, and France’s Isabelle Stoehr are among those who are sure to grace the event. The event will also witness the play of local candidates such as Shelley Kitchen.
Twelve players have by far confirmed their participation in the event’s draw. All of these players fall in the top 17 ranking that includes all of the official contenders of squash all over the globe. All of these prime contenders will fight their way into the championship. Other than the twelve confirmed players, four more spots will be filled through a qualifying round that will be done towards the end of this week.
The tournament was reported to cost about 45,000 USD, which amounts to 72,000 of the local New Zealand currency. Wayne Werder, the director of the tournament expresses his excitement about the events. He admits that the organizers initially expected the involvement of about three or four top global competitors. They are anticipating a rich turn out for this year’s event.
