K'taka state ranking badminton tournament to begin from Dec 3

Manipal, Nov 27 (UNI) A three- day 5 Star Karnataka State Ranking Badminton Tournament 2008 will be held here from December 3.

The tournament will be held under the aegis of Karnataka Badminton Association (KBA) and jointly organised by Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) and Udupi-Manipal Badminton Academy (UBMA) for men, women, veterans and mixed doubles.

Briefing at the joint press conference here today Dr Narayan Sabhahit, Joint Director of MIT and Vice- President of the organizing committee of the tournament and Honorary President of UBMA said that the selection of the candidates for the Karnataka team will also be made at the tournament.

The tournament is likely to be attended by over 100 participants from all over Karnataka.

They said that international, national and state champions such as Adithya Prakash (2008 World Junior Runner Up), S D S Krishna ( State ranking player), Mohith Kamath, Anil Pradhan, Ms. G M Nishmitha, Ms Uttar Prakash, Ms Anagha, Ms Sowmya will participate in the tournament.

Former Indian No 1 Vimal Kumar will also attend the tournament as the Karnataka state team selector and observer.

Dr Sabhahit said that the tournament will offer total prize money of Rs 80,000 and trophies for the winner and runners up. The MIT had given privilege to hold this state ranking tournament for the first time in the coastal Karnataka and free boarding and lodging will be provided for all the players during the tournament, he added.

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