Team Herald
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PANJIM: Goa is all set to witness a spectacular display of sub junior badminton talent as it hosts two prestigious All India Ranking Tournaments back-to-back.
Organised by the Goa Badminton Association under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India and supported by the Sports Authority of Goa, these national-level tournaments will bring together the best young shuttlers from across the country to the State.
The first tournament, featuring U-15 and U-17 age categories, will be held from June 14 to 22, at the Multipurpose Stadium in Peddem, Mapusa.
With close to 2,000 players registered, this mega event is not only a competitive platform but also serves as a key selection trial for the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati. The tournament will include 10 events across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles formats. Wayne Fernandes has been appointed as the Organising Secretary, while Navneet Nasnodkar and Samir Sangodkar are the Tournament Directors. Madhavan Narayanan from Kerala will officiate as the Chief Referee, assisted by Deputy Referee Sampat Rao Suribabu from Andhra Pradesh.
A total prize fund of Rs 12 lakh will be awarded to the top performers.
The action then moves to South Goa, where the U-13 All India Ranking Tournament will take place from June 23 to 28, at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, in Navelim.
Around 500 budding talents will participate in this event, which carries a prize purse of Rs 6 lakh. Aniruddha Joshi from Maharashtra will serve as the referee, with F Baria from Gujarat as his deputy. The organising secretary for this leg is Kapil Kamat and the tournament director is Sharmad Mahajan.
The singles events in both tournaments will feature the country’s top-seeded players. In the U-15 boys singles, the top seeds are Pushkar Sai (Karnataka), Harshit Khatri (Delhi) and Wazir Singh (Punjab). In the U-15 girls category, Shaina Manimuthu (Karnataka), Hamsini Chadaram (Telangana) and Avni Vikram Govind (Telangana) lead the rankings.
The U-17 boys singles will see Dev Ruparelia (Maharashtra), Prateek Koundilya (Karnataka) and Jagsher Singh Khangurra (Punjab) as top contenders, while the U-17 girls top seeds include Lakshya Rajesh (Karnataka), Rishika Nandi (Delhi), and Aadhira Rajkumar (Tamil Nadu).
Addressing the mediapersons, Manoj Patil, president of the Goa Badminton Association, extended an invitation to players, parents, and fans: “We welcome everyone to Peddem to witness the electrifying action on display. The standard of badminton in India has risen immensely, with academies flourishing in many cities. These tournaments not only provide Goa’s players with critical exposure but also inspire many others to work harder and reach national levels.”
With two major events lined up in Goa this June, the State is set to become a hub of sub junior badminton excellence, providing a thrilling experience for fans and a golden opportunity for players to shine on the national stage.