BAMBOLIM: Goa Badminton Association (GBA) is set to create history by organising two back-to-back nationals, next month. Around 2500 young shuttlers from across the country including 300 from the host state, are expected to take part in the juniors (July 15-21) and sub-juniors (July 23-30) national badminton championships to be held at Manohar Parrikar indoor stadium at Navelim, South Goa. The events also hold immense importance in terms of selection of trainees for the Top of the Podium scheme (TOPS), National Camp and international exposure.
The details of the two All India Ranking Badminton Tournaments were announced at a press conference Sports Authority of Goa’s Athletics stadium conference hall, here on Wednesday afternoon.
Dr Ajay Gaude, SAG Executive Director, Narahar Thakur, GBA President, Sandeep Heble, GBA Secretary and Manoj Patil, President, North Goa District Badminton Association addressed the media.
Dr Gaude praised the GBA for their efforts in the development of badminton in Goa. He underlined the unity in the association as the key aspect of their team work.
“Government has built excellent infrastructure at various locations in Goa which have not been utilised to their full potential. I am happy to note that the Goa Badminton Association will host these major events in Goa which will attract a large number of participants. The SAG is committed towards promoting sports and we are coming up with a centre of Excellence which will be a big boost to sports and sportspersons“, stated Dr Gaude, who is also the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs.
“While Goa have been hosts to various National events including Junior and Senior Nationals, this is the first time that Goa will be hosts to two back to back events, marking an energetic fortnight of action and excitement and a significant milestone in the history of Goa Badminton Association,” noted Heble.
Governing body for badminton in India, Badminton Association of India (BAI) will depute technical officials from various parts of the country to conduct the matches. Kerala’s J Melvin Minoy and Vivek Saraf from Maharashtra are the Chief Referees for the junior and sub-junior events respectively.
Harsh Mane, Yash Desai, Aarush Pawaskar, Anish Kamath, Nishant Shenai, Aryaman Saraf, Yash Halarnkar, Nidhi Desai, Janhavi Mahale, Synnovia D’ Souza and Sakshi K are some of the top State ranked Goa players who will be seen in action at these events.
The tournaments will be organised in collaboration with SAG and the North Goa District Badminton Association, which is headed by Manoj Patil (President), Parag Chauhan (Secretary), Anirban Sen (Treasurer), Nilesh Nayak (Advisor), Darwin Barreto, Sanjay Bhobe and Yeshwant Desai (Vice-Presidents), Sandeep Heble (Jt. Secretary), Wayne Fernandes (Jt. Treasurer), and Deepak Mayenkar, Sandesh Pawaskar, Shubert Colaco, Ashutosh Naik, Aniket Shenai and Supriya Pai Kuchelkar (members).
Digambar Kamat is the Chief Patron, while SAG Executive Director Dr. Ajay Gaude will be the Patron. SAG Coach, Vinayak Kamat is the Technical Advisor.
The prizemoney for the juniors event is Rs 4 lakh; while in the sub-juniors event, Rs 6 lakh will be up for grabs. Heble stated that the continual support from the SAG has been the backbone of the progress achieved by GBA. He also revealed Yonex Sunrise and Bhoomi Resources as the title sponsors of the events budgeted at around Rs 50 lakh.
GBA President, Thakur hoped that the young shuttlers will take up the challenge to bring in improvement in their game after they suffered in the last two years due to the pandemic.
GBA has invited all young Goa players to enrol and participate in these two National tournaments to get exposure at participating at the highest level. The officials also urged badminton lovers to come to the stadium to watch the top talents of the country, in action.
