After a gap of 12 years, Vijayawada, once considered hub of badminton in Andhra Pradesh, will be playing host to an all India sub junior major ranking tournament - 2012 for under-13 and 15 boys and girls in singles and doubles from January 2 to 7, according to Krishna District Badminton Association president K. Pattabhi Ram.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, Mr. Ram said that over 1,200 players from all over the country will take part in the tournament that would be played on the courts of the DRRMC Indoor Stadium and Vijayawada Club. “The total prize money of Rs.2 lakh is at stake”.
Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association general secretary K.Ch. Punnaiah Chowdary said that players who do not possess identification cards issued by the APBA will not be allowed to play and asked those who did not have, to approach their respective state associations to get one before December 14. “The last day for receipt of entries is December 14 and they should be sent to entry@ badmintonindia.org or should be emailed to KDBA president K. Pattabhi Ram kpattabhiram @gamil.com. We have already posted the info in the Badminton Association of India website”, he added.
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Mr. Chowdary said that the qualification rounds will be played from January 2 to 4 and the main draw begins on January 5. “We will be using Yonex – AS3 shuttles and the indoor stadium is being spruced up for the mega event under the supervision of District Collector S.M. Rizwi, Municipal Commissioner G. Ravi Babu and Joint Collector Gaurav Uppal,” said Mr. Ram. In all 32 entries for singles and 18 for doubles will qualify for the main draw.
History beckons
Recollecting the previous national events, Krishna University sports board secretary P.A. Chowdary said that it was in Vijayawada that the legendary former all England champion Prakash Padukone lost his national crown to Syed Modi at the DRRMC indoor stadium. “It was in Vijayawada that Indian coach P. Gopichand and his wife and Olympian P.V.V. Lakshmi won their SAARC badminton titles”.
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