The first ever Yonex Brunei Badminton Open Ike Shio Cup, which attracted more than 450 participants kick started yesterday at the National Indoor Stadium.

The badminton players will be vying for a total cash prize of $10,300 at the tournament. Organized jointly by the Brunei National Badminton Association and Nippon Badminton Association with support from Embassy of Japan, the tournament will not only serve to unearth new talents in the local badminton scene but also boost the relationship between Brunei Darussalam and Japan.

Besides the fiercely contested games, four Japanese national badminton players are scheduled to set foot in Brunei to demonstrate their badminton skills of smashing and returning smashes to the crowd on the final day of the tournament on Jan 29.

The Japanese national players are Reiko Shiota, Shintaro Ikeda, the Japanese mix doubles team known as Ike Shio; Keita Masuda the singles champion in Japan from 1998 to 2002 and Noriyasu Hirata, one of the Japanese men's double champion in 2009.

The Japanese shuttlers will be demonstrating their smashes that could reach up to a speed of 420km/hr.