Badminton Tournament: Satwik Sai from Andhra, Bhavya Rishi of Air India win best player awards
THE 24TH Smt Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament – 2015 concluded on Sunday, with Satwik Sai Raj from Andhra Pradesh emerging as the best player among boys while Bhavya Rishi of Air India being adjudged best player among girls.
Arjuna awardee and veteran badminton player Partho Ganguly, the chief guest at the closing ceremony, and former Indian hockey coach Sukbir Grewal, the guest of honour, and other guests gave away prizes to 28 winners and runners-up across several categories during the seven-day tournament.
From the city beautiful, Ishita Manchandar (under-19 girls) and Abhishek Saini (under-19 boys) were also honoured at the concluding function for their outstanding performance in the state championship as well as in this tournament.
24th Smt Krishna Khaitan Memorial Badminton Tournament: Over 1,250 players from all over India to show their skills in Chandigarh courts
- V V Natu Memorial badminton tournament returns after six years
- V V Natu Memorial badminton tournament returns after six years
- Chandigarh ball badminton team announced
- City briefs
- Krishna Khaitan Memorial badminton tourney to get underway from tomorrow
Addressing the players, Ganguly said it was an honour for him to be present in the event. “This is the 24th time that the association is organising this tournament, and it is a record by itself. I don’t think any other association has continued with the tournament for 24 long years,” he said.
The former international player told the young players to work hard. “There are four Ss that we all look at in any sport: speed, stamina, skill and strength,” he said. “Another S requires a lot of hard work and that is success. As people say 90 per cent of success is hard work. So my young friends, don’t be disappointed if you have not won. Work sincerely and work hard, and I am sure that one day you will wear the country’s shirt.”
Wing Commander (retd) Satish Bhatia, a former national badminton champion from the 1960s, said more such tournaments should be organised. “The young badminton players are doing well. This is a good signal for our country and I am sure that one day, they would make us proud,” he said. “They should work harder. There should be more competitions so that our players can compete with world-class people.”
He added, “Compared to the other countries we are lacking infrastructure. In every country there is infrastructure, but in our country we are lacking it and it is affecting the game. But we are certainly improving now. The state and the Centre are doing a lot for badminton and it is making a difference.”
More than 1,250 players from across the country participated in the tournament which started on October 12. The tournament was played at the Sector 42 Badminton Hall and the Panjab University Badminton Hall. The tournament, which is played with the support of Express Shuttle Club Trust and Chandigarh Badminton Association under the aegis of Badminton Association of India, saw players participating in the U-17 and U-19 events in the boys’ and girls’ categories (singles and doubles).
