NSBA Open Badminton tourney assures top class fare
 

BY BERNARD Perera

THE Open All Island Badminton Championships organised by National Services Badminton Association will commence on Monday and end on Saturday Sept 24 at S. Thomas' College Indoor Sports Complex.

This year the tournament is sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom's Rainbow Pages said Upali Arambewala President of the nationalised Badminton Association at the press briefing held at SSC last Wednesday.

He said nationalised services BA is the most active body which conducts the highest number of tourneys.

This tourney which was commenced in 1987 has became the most popular among shuttlers of all age groups. The tournament has attracted over 1000 from all parts of the country.

The most number of entries received were from the under 11 age group for boys and girls. He said 540 matches are scheduled to be conducted during six days of play.

He added that Sri Lanka has the potential to compete at international level and that was the reason NSBA wants to conduct tournaments for youngsters to encourage them to continue with the sports. The finals are scheduled to be telecast live on channel Eye on the final day of the tourney.

Winners will award cash award in addition to the trophies. School children are not eligible to receive cash awards and they will receive certificates.

Kapila Chandrasena (Chief Marketing Officer) who represented the sponsors Sri Lanka Telecom speaking said Badminton is a sport that sports men and women of all ages could participate. With this mind and with the hope of promoting the sport which could reach international standards his company decided to join hands with the NSBA.

He said "I am sure that our sponsorship will definitely help find new talent which is of vital importance for the future of the sport. He concluded saying that his company hopes to continue with more help towards the promotion of the game here.

Oliver Guruge Chairman of the tournament committee said this the participation has dropped slightly as there is another tournament arranged for the following week.

Specially the players from outstations are unable to come down to Colombo twice in a week and they have opted to skip this event. We are also unable to shift the dates as this was planned earlier.

On the final day the chief guest will be Kapila Chandrasena (Chief Marketing Officer Sri Lanka Telecom while L. P. M. P. Balapitiya (General Manager Directory Services) and L. Joseph (Director Admn SLT) grace the occasion as guests of honour.