The draw for the OCBC/Yonex US Open was made today for the first time via the Internet with the new IBF software, written by Sportcal.

The draw was made at the fantastic Orange County Badminton Club, owned by the USA Badminton President, Don Chew.

Vanessa Freeman, IBF Director of Events, was there to oversee the running of the new software together with USA Badminton representatives Paisan Rangsikitpho, Organising Committee Chair (pictured right), and Bob Cook, assistant to the Organising Committee (pictured left).

Rangsikitpho, also an IBF Council Member, pressed the button to launch the draws which were systematically uploaded onto the IBF website.

‘This new process really is a new era in advanced technology – the draw is literally made over the internet,’ said Vanessa Freeman.

‘We have been working on this software together with the new world ranking system for the last six months and it is great to finally use it in a live situation. The beauty of this system is that World Grand Prix Organisers can feel in control of their event.

‘For at least the last five years IBF has made the draws for World Grand Prix tournaments – now Organisers can make their draws whenever they wish safe in the knowledge that it’s all made in accordance with the IBF regulations.’

For the time being, IBF still controls entries to World Grand Prix events, but in the longer term the idea is for Member Associations to eventually enter their players into tournaments through the website using the IBF database.

‘We feel privileged to be the first ever tournament to try out this system,’ added Paisan Rangsikitpho.

‘The system is user-friendly and really simple to use and I particularly like the animation,’ he continued, adding that he was looking forward to IBF showing tournament Referees how to use the package, as all World Grand Prix Organisers will use this new system from now on.

There are two other new features with the US Open draws, the new relaxed nationality separation that only sees the number one and two from each country separated into different half”s and the new World Ranking which has been used for seeding.

Freeman added that IBF are looking forward to continuing this software development to ensure that the system is a useful tool for Member Associations, and to increase media coverage as everyone will be able to see the draw being made live wherever they are based via the web.

Visit the US Open draws now on www.worldbadminton.net

The draw for the Puerto Rico Open will also be made later this week in Los Angeles by tournament Referee, Federico Valdez.

For further information please contact:

International Badminton Federation
Lindsey Bell
Media Officer
T:+44 1242 23 49 04
F:+44 1242 22 10 30
E: lindseyb@intbadfed.org