Jayce
The 31st Smt. Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Badminton Prize Money Tournament will take place from September 12th to 19th at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector 3, Panchkula.
Sponsored by the Haryana Badminton Association and organized by the Express Shuttle Club Trust, this tournament is one of the junior ranking tournaments on the Badminton Association of India’s (BAI) calendar this year.
“We are expecting over 1,100 players to participate in the 31st Smt. Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India Junior Ranking Badminton Prize Money Tournament this year. It will provide significant ranking points for players under 19, and some of the top junior players in the domestic circuit are expected to compete in this year’s tournament,” said the Tournament Director, Sanjiv Sachdeva.
Last year, the tournament received over 1,150 entries. This year’s event will feature players under 19 competing in the categories of boys’ singles, girls’ singles, boys’ doubles, girls’ doubles, and mixed doubles. The total prize money for the tournament is INR 400,000, with cash awards also being given to the quarterfinalists in the boys’ and girls’ singles events.
Players born on or after January 1, 2006, are eligible to participate, and the deadline for entries is August 21. The qualifying rounds will take place from September 12th to 15th, followed by the main tournament from September 16th to 19th.
“This tournament will be conducted under the auspices of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), with BAI-approved referees and officials present during the matches. Players participating in doubles from different states must carry a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their respective state associations. As per BAI regulations, players must strictly adhere to the age guidelines. The first main draw and qualifying lists will be published on August 28, and players can contact their state units in case of any omissions,” said Sachdeva, a former head coach of the Indian junior team and a member of the BAI selection committee.
Last year, Haryana’s young player Anmol Kalub claimed the girls’ under-19 title by defeating Tanvi Sharma from Punjab in the final. Telangana’s Pranav Ram won the boys’ under-19 title after Mizoram’s Laltazuala retired midway through the final.
2012 London Olympic bronze medalist Saina Nehwal won the girls’ singles title at this tournament in 2005, while two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu claimed the title in 2010.
