GAME ON FOR S'PORE OPEN

SBA says it can still attract top-tier talent despite change in status to Super 500 event

- Kimberly Kwek

Loh Kean Yew in action at the 2025 Singapore Badminton Open, where he beat Frenchman Toma Popov 21-12, 14-21, 21-16 in the round of 16 in May. The tournament, which was upgraded to a Super 750 event from 2023 to 2026, will revert to a Super 500 event from 2027, following the Badminton World Federation's major revamp of their competition structure.

(PHOTO: ST FILE)

The Singapore Badminton Open (SBO) will return as a Super 500 event from 2027, following a major overhaul of the competition structure announced by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Feb 9.

The tournament, which was classified as a Super 500 event from 2018 to 2022, was upgraded to Super 750 status from 2023 to 2026.

Under the new BWF World Tour cycle from 2027 to 2030, Singapore will be one of the nine countries, including Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, to host Super 500 events.

Noting the many changes the SBO has undergone since it was inaugurated in 1929, Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) chief executive officer Woo Kaiwei said it was still able to attract top-tier talent, even during its earlier Super 500 phase.

Former world champions Kento Momota and P.V. Sindhu are among its past winners. Japan's former world No. 1 Momota claimed the men's singles title in 2015 and 2019, while India's Sindhu lifted the women's singles trophy in 2022.

Woo said: "We remain committed to hosting the SBO as a world-class event that continues to attract top international players and deliver an exceptional experience for athletes, partners and fans alike.