World Grand Prix finals put off

BANGALORE, MARCH 17. The International Badminton Federation has been forced, at short notice, to postpone the World Grand Prix finals due to be held in Brunei from March 28 to April 1.

The top 16 players in the World, including the newly- crowned All-England champion P. Gopi Chand, were scheduled to play in the tournament. The reasons for the postponement, according to IBF, are logistical and the decision has been made in order to ensure that an event of this importance can be organised to the very high standards required by the sponsors and players.

Following messages from the Brunei Badminton Association highlighting its concerns about the progress of arrangements, IBF immediately sent a delegation, including Marketing chairman Datuk Punch Gunalan and Chief Executive Neil Cameron, to carry out an on-site review.

Meetings were held with, amongst others, Brunei BA and the sponsors. As a result, Brunei BA and IBF agreed there was no alternative but to postpone the tournament.

``Faced with a number of key elements not in place, the short time left to make final preparations and the advice of the Brunei Badminton Association to postpone, IBF reluctantly agreed to a delay,'' said Gunalan.

The event was successfully held in Brunei on the last two occasions and it was expected it would be rescheduled to take place later this year in Brunei with the same players and for the same prize money. The date remains to be determined, but with the World Championships in May/June and other World Grand Prix tournaments before and afterwards, a date in August or later looks likely.

Mr. Cameron said, ``I have initiated a thorough review of how this situation has arisen without earlier warning. The results of the review will be reported to the IBF Executive Committee.''

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