While promoters of previous events have given very little to tennis in Malaysia, except showcasing top class players, Carbon Media Management Sdn Bhd - the organiser and promoter of the event - are working very closely with the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM).
Carbon Media have not only got sanction from LTAM, but are paying a substantial sanction fee, which they will be working together with LTAM to utlise for development of tennis in Malaysia.
Besides, the development programme which will be in place through this championship, Carbon are also working in other areas which will be beneficial to LTAM with long term initiatives.
The first initiative by Carbon Media to ensure that Malaysian tennis benefits was the transformation of the name of the event from Malaysian Tennis Classic 2010 to the Malaysian Open 2010.
The Malaysian Open will be the Malaysian leg of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
LTAM president said at the official announcement of the change of name yesterday morning: "The transformation of this event name from Malaysian tennis Classic 2010 to the Malaysian Open 2010 is in line with our vision of developing tennis withing Malaysia and having Malaysian representation at the highest levels of international tennis.
"The Malaysian Open along with our development programmes and initiatives, fits in with what LTAM are trying to achieve on multiple levels, from grassroots level all the way to the pinnacle Event. This association represents a sustained and long term commitment by the LTAM, Ministry of Youth and Sports and Carbon Media Management Sdn Bhd."
The Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who officiated the ceremony yesterday said: "We hope the corporate sector will share in the government's vision to make Malaysia into a regional sporting hub, and see that by participating in sporting programmes such as this, they can also gain commericial value whilst simultaneously helping the nation."
Indeed, it is good to see promoters of events like Carbon Media, who not only think of making money, but giving something back to the game.
Russian star Elena Dementieva leads the pack of world ranked players for the event scheduled to take place at Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort from Feb 22-28.
Dementieva, the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist, ranked fifth in the world, will have for company other stars like China's Li Na (ranked 17) and Jie Zheng (35), Germany's Sabine Liscki (22), Hungary's Melinda Czink (37), Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova (44), Australia's Jelana Dokic (58), India's Sania Mirza (56), Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm (64) and Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn (99).
A couple of more players are expected to confirm their participation by the end of the deadline today.
National player Jawariah Nordin has been awarded a wild card entry in the 32-player main draw which offers a purse of US$220,000 (RM748,000).
Tickets for the Malaysia Open are priced between RM13 to RM108 and can be purchased online at www.ticketpro.com.my or at the venue.
1 comment:
Gotta say Tony, this event sure is better than the "hit and run" exhibition match, Showdown of Champions. The Showdown event couldnt even attract a thousand people to watch, and that is after the organisers passed the tickets out free 2 days before the event due to the lack of sales. And to think Tourism Malaysia was the main sponsor... surely Ng Yen Yen has to answer to this given the newly imposed KPIs system for ministries.
By the way, why is it that mainstream journalist used to condemn the previous minister for international sports events but they have all gone quiet now?? Nothing to condemn now? Surely, they were at the Melawati stadium to see the embarassment... can get some of your buddies to comment on their turn of behaviour?
Rgds,
Goliath is King
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