National Junior Badminton tourney in Kochi from June 5

Kochi, Jun 3 (UNI) About 1200 players from 17 States and three Union Territories will take part in sixth Servo All India Junior Ranking Badminton tournament to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium from June five to ten.

Addresiing a press conference, organising committee president and city police commissioner P Vijayan said the new national coach P Gopichand will lead the team of selectors to choose the national squad for the forthcoming Asian Badminton Championship at Kuala Lumpur from the tournament.

He said for the first time in India, imported plastic shuttles would be used.

There will be 17 events in different age groups for boys and girls in singles, doubles and mixed doubles categories.

The qualifying rounds would be played on June five and six.

Regional Sports Centre secretary George Thomas said the Badminton Association of India had decided to hold a national camp here for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

According to the organisers, about 40 seeded players will be among the 1200 entries for the tournament.

UNI JA PG HT1540