Guwahati, Jan. 27: Gold and cash are up for grabs for the first two of the singles in the senior badminton nationals, hosted by the Assam Badminton Association in its golden jubilee year.
The nationals, beginning on Wednesday, have Rs 4 lakh in prize-money in the open events, which has attracted 318 participants from 31 states. The qualifying rounds of the nine-day meet, last held here in 1972, got under way at the NF Railway Stadium, Maligaon, and the Kanaklata indoor stadium today.
“We will give a gold piece weighing 10 grams to the winners in both categories and eight grams to the runners-up,” secretary of the association, Omar Rashid, said.
The inter-state competition, involving 129 participants from 10 states, will be a three-day affair. The open events will spread over four days from February 1.
The badminton association will also host the India-England test series to commemorate its golden jubilee. “We will chalk out our future plans, including setting up our own sports complex, at our executive meeting on February 1,” Rashid said.
“Our budget for the nationals is Rs 30 lakh, including the prize-money of Rs 4 lakh. We are thankful to the sponsors, especially the IOC, ONGC, North Eastern Council, OIL, Assam Gas Company, Numaligarh refinery and IBM Computers, for their support. We are also grateful to the Union and state governments for extending financial help. There have been others like the NF Railway who came forward to help us when we were struggling for an alternative venue for the Abita indoor stadium,” he said.
The association, which will host all former state players and former Asian champion Dinesh Khanna, came down heavily on the tea companies for their indifferent attitude towards the nationals.
Over 70 shuttlers, including 10 from the state, are participating in the qualifying rounds.
Though participants are accommodated in upmarket hotels, several players complained of inconvenience.
“We were initially asked to report at the stadium in Maligaon. But later we were told to proceed to Kanaklata. Moreover, there were no warm-up courts. This is something the organisers should address immediately,” a player said.
Challenge tourney
Ankurjyoti Club (191/5) made it to the last four of the Guwahati Challenge Trophy cricket championship, defeating Guwahati Cricket Coaching Centre (141 all out) by 50 runs at the Latasil ground here today.
They will meet the winners of the quarterfinal match between hosts Riverine Club and Shantipur Athletic Club in the semi-finals. NF Railway will lock horns with City Cricket Coaching Centre in a pre-quarterfinal match tomorrow.
