Badminton: New sponsor OUE Limited for April's Singapore Open

OUE bayfront located at 50, Collyer Quay. Singapore's marquee badminton event will take place two months earlier than its usual time slot, with a new title sponsor on board. -- ST FILE PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
OUE bayfront located at 50, Collyer Quay. Singapore's marquee badminton event will take place two months earlier than its usual time slot, with a new title sponsor on board. -- ST FILE PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Singapore's marquee badminton event will take place two months earlier than its usual time slot, with a new title sponsor on board.

The Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) on Thursday unveiled public-listed property company OUE Limited as the new title sponsor for the April 8-13 Singapore Open at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The US$300,000 (S$380,000) annual event has taken place in June in previous editions.

Said SBA president Lee Yi Shyan, who is also Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry, National Development): "We are very pleased and honoured that OUE has decided to take up this sponsorship for Singapore badminton. We hope that by partnering OUE, we will further enhance the sport and Singapore Open 2014 by bringing a better and new experience for the fans."

Added Stephen Riady, executive chairman of OUE: "We at OUE hope to contribute to the development of badminton in Singapore and expose local players to international competition at the highest level."

Riady, who is also patron of the SBA, has previously donated $1 million to the association towards the development of partnership programmes with schools. The title sponsorship is believed to be for one year.

A series of corporate social responsibility initiatives have also been planned alongside the tournament. For instance, a donation drive starting Feb 21 will encourage members of the public to donate their new and used badminton equipment to be given to beginners and players who are unable to afford their own equipment.

The OUE Singapore Open will be the fifth leg in the MetLife BWF World Superseries.

Tickets for the event will go on sale from Feb 17 through SportsHub Tix. They are priced from $3 (child, early bird) to $150 (adult season, normal period). For more information, visit www.facebook.com/SingaporeOpenBadminton

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