South Korean Kang Young Joong elected IBF president

Kang Young Joong of South Korea has been elected new president of the International Badminton Federation in Beijing Sunday ahead of the Sudirman Cup.

The decision, taken at the Annual General Meeting, gave Kang a four-year term in the office, which was held previously by Korn Thapparansi of Thailand.

"I am deeply touched and humbled for being offered such a huge opportunity as this," Kang, 55, said in his inaugural speech. "I promise you that i will show my appreciation through hard work and results during my term in office."

"I realize I am joining IBF at the most crucial and testing time...the time when our vision is being streamlined and refocused, the time when fresh faces appear on the management scene and new projects are being cultivated," he said.

"Some people might say that the IBF is moving into an obscure future and could get lost. however, with you by my side, ladies and gentlemen, believe we can sail through these uncharted waters unscathed and moreover, we can claim the prize at the end of the voyage."

Kang was elected president of the South Korean badminton association in July 2003 and president of the Asian Badminton Confederation in October 2003.

He founded Daekyo "Noonnoppi Women's Badminton Team" in 1997 for the expansion of the base of badminton.

He also has been supporting the "Noonnoppi Korea Open Badminton Championships", the biggest badminton event in South Korea with the highest prize money for the last four years.

Former IBF vice president Punch Gunalan was named deputy president, a newly created post in the badminton world governing body.