ANU(ChandigarhCityNews)
Four day Sudama Badminton Cup 2017 today took off at Sector 43 Sports Complex here. The chief guest on the occasion, Amar Singh, Adviser to Navjot Singh Sidhu, Minister of Local Bodies, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Archives and Museums, Punjab. He announced a grant of Rs.5 lakh to the Sudama Pariwar Sports Club, organisers of the event.
Over 700 players, including 100 women, from 28 states, are participating, besides players from countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia who are also competing in the four-day tournament.
On the first day, in Men’s Singles 35+ Category, Lukaram Ramesh Singh of Manipur beat Vikrant Kranjkar of Maharashtra in a keenly contested three games with a score of 5-21, 21-16, 21-17. Rachna Kumari of Madhya Pradesh had to struggle hard to outclass Sonal Battad of Maharashtra in Women’s Singles 35+, score being 17-21, 22-20, 21-19. In Men’s Doubles 35+ Chandigarh pair of Ashish Sharma and Varun Sharma defeated Haryana’s Pankaj Gulati and Vinay Bhalla 21-18, 23-21.
While speaking on the occasion, the chief guest, Amar Singh, congratulated the club for organizing the tournament, which has given an opportunity to badminton veterans from across the country to compete. “It is indeed very encouraging to see the club for organizing an international event in Chandigarh. Badminton is a tough game which demands stamina, style and individual performance”, he said, adding that former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, has been working towards promoting all sports being a sportsman himself.
Charanjit Singh, President, Sudama Cup, 2017, while speaking on the occasion welcomed the players who have come from different states across the country. He thanked the Punjab government for the grant, which he said would go a long way in promoting the sport.
Giving the information, S.P. Singh, Founder of the Club, said, “The tournaments would be held under the aegis of Chandigarh Badminton Association under the observation of BAI. The total prize money of the tournament would be Rs 10 lakh.”
The four-day tournament has participation of over 600 men and 100 women players across the country in seven categories of Men &Women Singles of 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+ age groups and Men’s Single in 55+, 60+ and 65+ age groups, apart from doubles and mixed doubles categories. Hariyanto Arbi from Indonesia, a former World Champion would preside over the closing ceremony on 29th October at 2.00pm.”
