Japan's LPGA golf tour will go ahead with its first major of 2011, bucking a trend in which a raft of major sporting events have been cancelled since last month's deadly earthquake and tsunami.
The JLPGA said yesterday the May 5-8 World Ladies Championship will be held in quake-torn Ibaraki prefecture, with defending champion Morgan Pressel and high-flying Asians Ai Miyazato and Choi Na-yeon among a top-class field.
"Ibaraki suffered damage in the earthquake but by playing the tournament we can help boost morale and the relief efforts in the disaster areas," JLPGA president Hiromi Kobayashi told reporters.
The 9.0 magnitude quake and massive ensuing tsunami devastated large areas of northeastern Japan, leaving 28,000 people dead or missing. It also threw sports events into chaos with several major events cancelled and postponed.
Asked about the continued aftershocks throughout northern Japan, Kobayashi said: "We will remain in constant contact with police and local rescue officials and act speedily on any information.
"You can't continue to think you can't play because you're afraid or worried. We want to play this tournament to provide support to the region."