Eleven countries have confirmed their participation in the Malaysia International Challenge Badminton Championship 2010, which will take centre stage at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex from November 9-14 here, this year.

Sabah Badminton Association (SBA) President, Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap said the tournament has already registered more than 220 participants and that more are expected to confirm their participation in the coming weeks.

"The highlight of the tournament thus far is the confirmed participation from countries like Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Denmark and recent Commonwealth Games host country, India, as well as representatives from Malaysia's reserve elite players, who will also be competing.

"Other counties that will also be taking part are Hong Kong, Iraq, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and the ever improving Vietnam," he said.

Maijol said this when chairing the tournament's second organising committee meeting at the Sabah Sports Board meeting room at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex here, Monday.

This is the second time that Sabah is being given the honours to host this Level 4 championship, which is being jointly organised with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

Maijol said the six-day tournament would have five categories, namely the Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

"This would be our second time hosting this tournament after the successful staging of the first championship in November 2008.

"We are thankful and grateful to BAM for once again putting their faith and trust in Sabah to host this prestigious championship event," said Maijol.