TURA: Williamnagar town in East Garo Hills is all set to host a three-day open badminton tournament, from 7th to 9th December, to give young players of the state an opportunity to showcase their talent.
The open tournament which has been restricted to players from within the state to give exposure to local talent is being organized by the District Badminton Association (DBA) of East Garo Hills.
Over a hundred players from the state have already registered for the tournament with many more sending confirmation of their arrival before the 3 PM Tuesday deadline.
“Badminton is becoming a very popular sport in the country and especially with the youth. The success stories of Indian players at international events have further boosted the sport among the youth. India’s Champions Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu who have scripted history by reaching the top ranks among world players is a great example,” said general secretary of DBA Johny Marak.
The organisers of the Williamnagar event have assured attractive prizes for the winners.
“We have a lot of unexposed talent within our young boys and girls and that need to be nurtured to help them reach the national level of the sport,” said organising member of the tournament, Tuescaesar Marak.
Badminton is a popular sport in the country and is the second most played sporting event after cricket in India. Indian women’s singles player Saina Nehwal was ranked first in the world in the year 2015. She was also the first Indian badminton player to have won an Olympic medal when she won the bronze medal in the 2012 Olumpics.
Four years later, at the 2016 Summer Olympics, P V Sindhu became the first Indian woman ever to win a silver medal.