North Western Badminton tourney from today

North Western Open Badminton Championship conducted by North Western Province Badminton Association (NWPBA) will commence today and will continue until March 3 at two venues. The tournament rated as a National Ranking Level 1 competition, will be held at the Vijayabahu Infantry Regimental Sports Complex in Boyagane and at the Municipal Council Indoor Stadium in Kurunegala.This is good opportunity for outstation shuttlers while some of the key players also taking part in this competition. The first-round matches of the six day competition will be conducted on three days from today to 29 while the quarterfinals and semi-finals are scheduled to be held from March 1 and 2, followed by the finals and awards presentation ceremony on the final day, March 3.

Over 70 events have been lined up in Open, Junior, Senior and Plate categories under singles, doubles and mixed doubles for men and women, including a special feature where a Combined event will include doubles events in men women and mixed.The Open category will include singles and doubles for men and women and a mixed Doubles event, while the junior category, features five age categories from Under-11 to 19, will have singles and doubles for boys and girls.

The senior category will begin from the Over-30 segment and will include nine (9) age groups up to Over-70 with shuttlers expected to compete under singles and doubles for men and women and Mixed Doubles. The losing competitors from the Open category, will be drafted to the Plate segment, excluding the ranked and national players. The organizers are expected to offer a prize money of Rs. 750,000 will be pooled among winners of the North Western Open Badminton Championship 2024, sponsored by McFoil, Mobil, Li Ning, 2M and GAC.Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) headed by President Rohan de Silva already conducted several Provincial level tournaments to popularize this sport while they are giving attractive cash awards for the winners. A few more Provincial level tournaments will be held shortly.

(Source: Daily News)