Badminton championship gets underway

The Punjab State Senior Badminton Championship 2024 officially kicked off at the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium in Jalandhar on Saturday. The event, organised by the District Badminton Association (DBA), Jalandhar, will run until December 2, with approximately 200 players from across the state competing for top honours.

Speaking about the championship, DBA member secretary Ritin Khanna said that the opening ceremony was graced by Swapan Sharma, Commissioner of Police, as the chief guest. During his address, Swapan Sharma emphasised the significant role sport plays in an individual’s overall development. He stated, “Sport is not only about physical endurance, but also greatly contributes to personality development, instilling values such as discipline, teamwork and perseverance.”

He also congratulated the organisers and the entire DBA Jalandhar team for their efforts in developing the stadium into a premier sports facility.

The ceremony also honoured several international badminton players from Punjab who have made notable contributions to the sport. Jalandhar players Manya Ralhan, Divyam Sachdeva and Mridul Jha were presented with cash prizes in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Additionally, Vijaydeep Singh, coach of the Indian badminton team that won the prestigious Thomas Cup, was also felicitated, along with former international player Sachin Ratti.