Features Communications

Press Release

March 18, 2005

International Badminton Federation

Badminton: CHINA GEARING UP FOR SUDIRMAN CUP

Thursday 17 March 2005

China will be looking to capitalise on their home ground advantage when the
IX Sudirman Cup (world mixed team championship) wings its way to Beijing in
two month’s time.

The 2005 edition of this coveted team event will be staged from 10-15 May at
the Beijing Capital Gymnasium, where the formidable Chinese team will be
determined to reclaim the trophy they lost to Korea two years ago in
Eindhoven (NED).

A total of 42 nations are due to compete at this ninth Sudirman Cup
competition, including Mongolia and Turkmenistan who will be making their
debuts at this biennial event, which is named after a former IBF
Vice-President and `father’ of Indonesian badminton, Dick Sudirman.

The Sudirman Cup format takes the form of round-robin group play, with the
teams drawn into groups dependent on their final ranking position from the
previous competition.

Only the eight teams in group one have a shot at the title and the coveted
cup, and these are holders Korea, China, Denmark, Indonesia, England,
Sweden, Thailand and Hong Kong – newly promoted into the top eight after
topping group two at the 2003 event.

The group one draw and remaining group boundaries will be announced on
Monday 21 March.

Only three nations have won this event since its inauguration in 1989
‑ Indonesia won the first event in Jakarta, with Korea winning in 1991
and 1993. China took home the trophy on the next four consecutive occasions
(1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001), before Korea regained the world team title in
2003.

ENTRIES FOR THE 2005 SUDIRMAN CUP
Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Kazakhstan, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South
Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Wales.

ENDS.

For further information contact Lindsey Bell, Head of Communications, at

International Badminton Federation, Manor Park Place, Rutherford Way,
Cheltenham, Glos, GL51 9TU, UK

Tel: + 44 1242 234904 Fax: + 44 1242 221030

E-mail: lindseyb@intbadfed.org Website:

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