Four-day badminton tournament opens
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 8
Over 600 shuttlers are participating in the four-day District Badminton Championship that was opened by the District Badminton Association at Raizada Hansraj Stadium on Thursday. The event was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal.
An air-conditioned gymnasium and synthetic court was also dedicated to the players on the occasion.
Aggarwal said playing builds children’s personality and players learn to live life in a better way. He said sports teaches us good values, morals and skills in life. He congratulated the interim committee for the development work done in the stadium.
DBA secretary and former national player Ritin Khanna said competitions were being held in different age groups, starting from U-11 to veteran categories. “A total of 500 matches will be played in the next four days. The final will be played on August 11. Live streaming of matches will be done. Aggarwal and Jalandhar division head of Indian Oil Rajan Berry will felicitate the winners on Sunday. For the first time in the 50 year history of the DBA, prizes worth Rs 5 lakh will be given to the winners,” he elaborated.
During the inauguration ceremony today, international players Manya Ralhan, Abhinav Thakur and Ram Lakhan were honoured with cash prizes by the DBA. Former Sports Minister Gurmeet S Meet Hayer had given a grant of Rs 23.16 lakh for the upgrading of the stadium. Apart from this, cricketer and MP Harbhajan Singh had also given Rs 15.6 lakh for the machinery of gymnasium. With these funds, a new air-conditioned gymnasium, a new synthetic court and hostel rooms were renovated in the stadium, which were dedicated to the players today.
