IBM_March_2016

IndonesianBadmintonlegendsetfor
VIProleat YONEXAllEngland2016
The countdown to the 2016 Olympic Games is well and truly on with
less than 200 days to go until the world’s biggest sporting event begins.
Badminton qualification for the Games runs until 1 May and the
world’s best will be battling it out for precious qualification points
on the #RoadtoRio at the world’s biggest tournaments, and
they don’t come any bigger than the YONEX All England Open
Badminton Championships 2016.
The YONEX All England is the oldest badminton tournament in
the world and the first MetLife BWF Superseries Premier event of
the year.
All the world’s best will be playing at Birmingham’s Barclaycard
Arena from 8-13 March when some fantastic rivalries, which
have been the hallmark of great YONEX All England and Olympic
Games over the years, will be resumed, including the great Lin
Dan and Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei.
Guest speaker
History shows that success at the YONEX All England is often
replicated at the Olympics, and one man who knows all about
winning both in the same year is Rexy Mainaky, who has been
confirmed as the special guest speaker for this year’s hospitality
events.
The Indonesian men’s doubles legend will be talking to fans 20
years on about his fantastic Olympic gold and YONEX All England
title wins in 1996 with then doubles partner Ricky Subagja.
Rexy, renowned for a powerful attacking game that excited
crowds during a near ten-year career, will be at the Barclaycard
Arena in Birmingham for the hospitality events taking place on
Saturday 12 March and Sunday 13 March.
The Q&A session with Rexy, hosted by Sky Sports News presenter
David Garrido, will be part of a luxury hospitality package
giving fans a touch of extra class to their YONEX All England
experience.
Rexy said: “I’m delighted to be attending next year’s YONEX
All England as the guest speaker for the hospitality events and
I’m looking forward to returning to the most historic badminton
event in the world.
“2016 marks 20 years since I won both the YONEX All England in
Birmingham and gold at the Olympics in Atlanta, and I’m excited
to see who will make their mark at this year’s event ahead of Rio
in the summer.”
1996 was not Rexy’s only Olympic success story. After his
retirement from playing, Rexy moved into coaching and worked
with England’s elite squad when Nathan Robertson and Gail
Emms won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
If you’re interested in meeting Rexy or would like to know more
about the hospitality packages at the YONEX All England, visit
allenglandbadminton.com/hospitality.
Tickets for the championships are still available and start from
£5 for children. Go to allenglandbadminton.com/tickets/info.
INTERNATIONALBADMINTONMAGAZINE March 2016 | 19
www.isportgroup.com/InternationalBadmintonMagazine