Top Indian shuttlers for Senior all India ranking prize money meet

Mumbai, Dec 7 (UNI) Top Indian shuttlers will battle it out at the 5th edition of the USV Senior All India Major Ranking prize money Badminton Tournament, sponsored by USV India Ltd and co-sponsored by Raymond's.

The tourney to be organized by the Uday Pawar Badminton Academy will be held at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) courts from December 13-16, it was announced at a press conference here today.

The first senior national tournament since the Nationals held in January this year, the tournament will have Rs 4 lakh at stake as prize money. All the top players from around the country are expected to participate, with substantial ranking points at stake.

Among the top players to be seen in action will be names like Nikhil Kanetkar, Anand Pawar, Thomas Kurien, Rohan Castellino, Ajay Jairam, Sagar Chopda and Jishnu Sanyal in the Men's Singles and Sanave Thomas/Rupesh Kumar, Diju/Vidyadhar, Jaseel Ismail/Jaison Xavier in the Men's Doubles.

Trupti Murgunde, B R Meenakshi and Aditi Mutatkar are some of the big names in the women's singles, while Jwala Gutta and Shruti Kurian have confirmed their entries in the women's doubles.

However, the organisers informed that the final list of entries will be confirmed after the Indian players return from the campaign in the Doha Asian Games.

Maharashtra Badminton Association President Pradeep Gandhe, who was also present at the conference to announce this tourney, said ''The Uday Pawar badminton Academy has put up events like this in the past with great success and I am certain this tournament will be no different. The CCI is a fantastic venue to host the event which will compliment the Feast of Badminton that will be on display.'' Uday Pawar, who is also a former doubles national champion and Secretary of the organizing committee, on the occasion said ''The response for this tournament has been good over the years. In addition to the tournament we are also conducting a demo clinic for the youngsters where they will be guided by a few senior players.'' The men's singles winner in this tourney will get prize money worth Rs 42,500, while the runner-up will be richer by Rs 20,000.

The women's singles winner will stand to gain Rs 30,000, while the runner-up will pocket Rs 15,000. In the men's doubles section, the winner will get Rs 35,000, while the runner-up will be richer by Rs 20,000. The women's doubles winner will get Rs 25,000, while the Runner-up will take home Rs 16,000, it was announced on the occasion.

UNI GS KU SAM ND1928