This year, There will be another Korea Open GP US$ 50000 , starts 23-28 Nov ( same time with Kaoshiung Challenge) According to BWF's official, when a country has SS event, the next GP should be GOLD GP ( minimum US$ 120 K) like Indonesia and Malaysia and I am wondering why Korea has 50 K only..
Not exactly unusual, though. After all, Singapore has only an International Series in addition to its Super Series and Japan has only an Int'l Challenge, as did Indonesia and Korea before this year and Malaysia before 2009. The European SS hosts, and Hong Kong, don't have any other international tournaments. Even if the BWF would like that to be the norm, it appears only 3 of the 11 nations - Malaysia, Indonesia, and China - have a GP Gold or higher in addition to a SS.
The Korea Open GP used to be the Korea International Challenge for a few years. Let's see if INA and the clubs want to send their players to this tourney. There will also be a new Kaohsiung International Challenge event to be held in the same week as Korea Open GP this year. I feel that INA can send their Pratama players (esp MD, WD, and XD) to these regional IC and GP events to boost their rankings.
I think this tournament is good (but a bit expensive in terms of cost) for independent players like Andre, Nana, Adit, Alamsyah, even Alvent-Hendra and Vita-Hendra... Also, even from the National Team: Firda, Febe, and even Maria Kristin! (from WS), Rijal-Debby, Shendy-Nitya, Fran-Pia, etc.
I just checked the BWF Statutes. Apparently Korea Open GP is still within the regulatory framework Part III, section 1B, appendix 10. Essentially: a nation with a SS or PS [Premier Series], can have one more tournament in level 3... so, either 1 additional Gold GP or 1 GP. Ok. Korea GP it is then...
Does that mean that Japan is outside the framework, having only a SS and the Osaka IC? If these 'rules' mention PS, then possibly they are only to take effect from next year. Korea's International Challenge had young contingents from Indonesia in '07, from Japan in '07 and '08 and from Thailand in '08 and '09. The last 3 years, they've had all of their top players competing for the US$15,000 so it's little wonder other teams didn't bother. This year, again, they are billing it internally as a combination GP tournament and their national championships so you might end up with something like the India Open, where the home team is huge (including high school players) and the visitors limited.
In Japan's case, the rule just said: except for China (that has 1 PS and 1 SS), a nation may have one level 2 tournament (PS or SS), one level 3 tournament (GP or GP Gold), and one level 4 tournament (FS or IS or IC)... that's all. Japan may have one more GP or GP Gold tournament if it chooses so...
After some thought, considering that the top guns in Korea will definitely be joining the tourney and right after the Asian Games, it's probably best for Team INA's main squad to avoid this tourney The independent players will also not join given the low pts and prize-money. The Kaohsiung IC will be a better one for our INA youngsters to win some titles.
Next year edition of Korea Open level will be GP Gold as scheduled in 2011 BWF Calendar (06-11 December) with total prize-money US$120,000.
China team squad MS: Bao Chunlai, Wang Zhengming, Chen Yuekun, Tian Houwei, Qiao Bin WS: Li Xuerui, Liu Xin, Zhou Hui, Suo Di MD: Qiu Zihan/Liu Xiaolong, Shen Ye/Hong Wei WD: Bao Yixin/Lu Lu XD: Qiu Zihan/Lu Lu, Hong Wei/Bao Yixin
PB. Djarum player WS : 1. Fransiska Ratnasari 2. Rosaria Yusfin Pungkasari MD : 1. Didit Juang Indrianto/Seiko Wahyu Kusdianto I think another INA player will competing on kejurnas Makassar
MAS squad MS - Mohd Arif Abdul Latif MD - Goh Wei Shem/Teo Kok Siang, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif/Hoon Thien How XD - Ong Jian Guo/Chong Sook Chin
I heard the Korean Badminton Association provided lodging and food for the duration of their stay in Korea. PBSI chose not to take advantage of this facility, so the PB. Djarum management asked for PBSI's permission to use it. They got it.
TS link http://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=8BEE4278-3FFD-45AB-AEA2-65C0F39C40FB
Hmm Ha Jeung Un pair with Park Sun Young. This just play play or? I admit and big applause for KOR brave to keep split and find a formula for produce high quality pair. Earlier of this year park partner with kim min jung and partner with yoo yeon seong in XD. Found out Kim Min Jung will pair with Yim Ah Young(due to LHJ retirement?? :crying: :crying: :crying And Jung Kyung Eun pair with Yoo Young Hyun(former YYH/Ha Na Kim)..hmm never watch YYH before... Dae Han Ming Guk!
