Indonesia offers 1 mln USD rewards in international premier badminton championship

JAKARTA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia offers a total prize of 1 million U.S. dollars in the upcoming Badminton World Federation (BWF)-sanctioned Super Series Premier championship slated from June 12 to 18 here with over 300 players, including top seeded players, from 21 countries and regions have been confirmed to take part in the event.

The tournament organizer claimed that the amount of prize is the largest in BWF's premier badminton tournaments held this year so far.

Different from the previous years which were held in landmark badminton arena of Istora Senayan, the upcoming Indonesia Open Super Series Premier tournament would be held in the capital city's landmark convention center of JCC, which is not far from the Istora Senayan.

The host country only set target to secure one title in the tournament from its men's doubles rising stars players Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo who seized championships in recent badminton super series tournaments.

"The last champion title that we obtained here was in 2013 with Mohamad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan. After that we had never won. Let's hope we can win again this year," Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) Media officer Ricky Subagja told a press conference here on Monday.

Ricky added that Marcus and Kevin have demonstrated excellent performances in the last few months in badminton premier championships.

The BWF's number one men's doubles players from Indonesia had seized the championships in three consecutive badminton premier tournaments of All England, India Open and Malaysia Open.