Impact Arena selected to host three tournaments
published : 11 Nov 2020 at 04:00
newspaper section: Sports
Muang Thong Thani's Impact Arena has been chosen to host three big events in January, the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) said yesterday.
BAT president Patama Leeswadtrakul said the BAT had thoroughly considered other options but decided to choose Impact Arena.
It will be the venue for the Yonex Thailand Open (Jan 12-17), the Toyota Thailand Open (Jan 19-24) and the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2020 (Jan 27-31).
Impact Arena hosted the 2018 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup and won praise from all involved parties, Khunying Patama said.
"I hope you still remember the atmophere during the 2018 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup," she said.
"We will bring back happiness to the Thai people through the three tournaments."
Impact Arena may be an 'auspicious place' for Thai players as the national women's team finished second after losing to Japan in the final of the 2018 Uber Cup.
It was Thailand's best result in the event after they stunned China in the semi-finals.
The Yonex Thailand Open and the Toyota Thailand Open are BWF World Tour Super 1000 tournaments with each offering US$1 million in total prize money.
The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2020 has a total purse of $1.5 million.
The three tournaments will be held with strict Covid-19 protocols.
"Thailand has a strong history of organising major badminton tournaments and we trust our hosts to deliver a spectacular month of badminton in January 2021," Poul-Erik Hoyer, president of the Badminton World Federation, said last month.
The 2020 season was suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic and competition resumed last month with the Denmark Open.
