PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei hopes the inaugural Lee Chong Wei Cup will not only serve as a platform for young shuttlers but also give national coaches the chance to spot new talent.
After months of searching for a suitable venue, the organisers have chosen Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara, a venue close to Chong Wei's heart as it was where he honed his skills during his playing days.
The grassroots tournament is scheduled to take place from Aug 29-Sept 6.
Chong Wei also wants the inaugural tournament to be organised to a high standard, describing his vision for it as a "mini Malaysian Open".
While the winners will earn the opportunity to attend a trial with the national team at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM), Chong Wei hopes coaches from both the senior and junior set-ups will attend the tournament and keep an eye out for promising players.
"I hope that when the Lee Chong Wei Cup takes place, all the coaches, from both the senior and junior squads, can come and have a look at the young talent," said Chong Wei at the unveiling of the Lee Chong Wei Cup trophy in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
"Perhaps they can take note of some of these players and consider them when they conduct their reviews.
"We usually select new players between December and January, and this tournament is also being held quite close to the end of the year.''
The official trophy for the tournament was also unveiled yesterday.
Weighing about 12.5kg and standing 60cm tall, the trophy features a silhouette of Chong Wei and is handcrafted from premium-grade brass with gold plating, mounted on a solid teak base.
Each element of the trophy was designed to represent the prestige, craftsmanship and excellence of Malaysian badminton.
Three age groups will be contested in the boys' and girls' singles – Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 – while mixed doubles will only be played in the Under-17 category.
The tournament is expected to attract about 3,200 participants in the qualifying rounds.
The top 32 players or pairs will advance to the Grand Finals, where they will be joined by another 32 selected by their respective states.
A total prize purse of RM100,000 is up for grabs, making it one of the most lucrative youth badminton tournaments in Malaysia.
