Rohtak to host senior national badminton championships

NEW DELHI - The 75th Senior National Badminton Championships will be held at Rohtak, in Haryana, Jan 3-10.

The tournament, conducted by the Haryana Badminton Association (HBA), will see participation from more than 500 players.

Real estate major DLF are the main sponsors of the event.

Devender Singh, president of Haryana Badminton Association, said Tuesday: “It is our privilege to host this prestigious event.”

“We are hopeful that all the top players will participate. We will provide the best of arrangements to the players,” he said.

“Haryana has been in the forefront of promoting sports and has adopted a new sports policy that will help in the growth of our sportspersons. The achievements of our players in the Commonwealth Games has been great. There is a phenomenal sports movement in the state. Chief Minister Bhupender Sigh Hooda takes keen interest in sports and wants Haryana to produce more champion athletes,” said Singh, who is also the senior vice-president of Badminton Association of India.

Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta, and Ashwini Ponappa along with former stars Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand will be felicitated during the event.

Gutta, who was present in the function to announce the tournament, said she is looking forward to playing in Rohtak.

I am sure the tournament will be a great success just as the junior national badminton championship hosted by HBA four years back at Panchkula.”

Indian players are doing great in the last couple of years and we have won medals in international tournaments. Regular tournaments conducted at district, state and national levels will help groom upcoming players to international standard.

Akaash Ohri, director of DLF Golf and Resorts, said: “DLF is known for the sponsorship of Indian Premier League, golf and boxing. Thanks to players like Saina Nehwal and Jwala Gutta, who have brought glory to the country, we are proud to associate ourselves with badminton. The winners will be awarded Maruti SX 4 cars.”