The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : Anup and Saina expected to spearhead a quality line-up

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Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007
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Anup and Saina expected to spearhead a quality line-up

NEW DELHI: Anup Sridhar and Saina Nehwal are expected to spearhead a quality line-up in the men’s and women’s sections in the all-India Pramod Mahajan senior ranking badminton tournament, carrying a record prize money of more than Rs. 9 lakh, at the Siri Fort Sports Complex here from January 1 to 6.

Crucial event

The event would also serve as a selection criteria for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup teams.

Cricketer Kirti Azad, a key member of the organising committee, announced that the men’s and women’s champions would get an equal prize money of Rs.110,000 the biggest in the domestic circuit.

“We are expecting about 350 players and would make all arrangements for all of them, including concessional second AC train fare for one way apart from free board and lodge. There will be no entry fee. We will be using six hova courts and the best Yonex AS-40 shuttles for all the main draw matches,” said Kirti Azad.

While the runner-up will get Rs. 50,000, the third and fourth placed will get Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 20,000. Any player qualifying for the main event will get Rs. 2,000. The doubles champion team will get Rs. 60,000 and the runner-up Rs. 30,000.

As an added attraction, the top four singles players and the top two doubles teams as per the latest BAI list in each event will be provided air tickets to compete in the tournament. “We have requested Prakash Padukone, P. Gopi Chand, Michael Ferreira, Ajay Jadeja and Navjot Singh Sidhu to come for the event,” said Kirti Azad.

Chairman Harish Sharma and patron Sudhanshu Mittal also addressed the media in seeking support for the event. It was announced that the club would be happy to conduct international tournaments in future if given the opportunity by the national federation. — Special Correspondent

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