The Hindu : Sport / Badminton : Nationals from Thursday

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 03, 2006

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Sport - Badminton

Nationals from Thursday

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Canara Bank is the title sponsor for the senior National and inter-State badminton championship that begins here on Thursday. Inter-State championships will be held on the opening day, followed by the open events on January 7.

The finals of the inter-State championships for the Rahimtoolah Cup (men) and Chadha Cup (women) are slated for January 6, while the open finals will be played on January 11.

The qualifying rounds for open events, which include men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles, would be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. As many 175 players are in the fray for the qualifying contest out of which eight would make it to the main draw in each section.

Briefing mediapersons here on Monday, Prakash Padukone, whose Padukone Sports Management is organising the championship, said the event would be known as `Canara Bank senior Nationals'.

"We wish to make the championship a big success. We will provide the best of facilities for players and the media, thanks to the good backing from sponsors," he said.

B. Swaminathan, Executive Director, Canara Bank, said the bank was pleased to associate with the event. "This being the bank's centenary year, we are happy to sponsor the championship. The bank has several leading sportspersons on its rolls like cricketers Vijay Bharadwaj, Sunil Joshi, Venkatesh Prasad, athletes M.K. Asha, Suma Goplakrishna, Vanaja Simiah and former National badminton champion U. Vimal Kumar." ING Vysya Bank, Gardene City College and Vijaya Bank are the co-sponsors. International referee S. Muralidharan of Kerala will be the chief referee.

"The men's qualifying ties will be played on best of 21 points and the women's on best of 15 points. The matches will be confined to just one game each," said Mr. Muralidharan.

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