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DUBAI — A record 286 entries have been received for the annual India Club Western Union UAE Open badminton tournament which was inaugurated at the Indian Club here on Wednesday night.
The event, organised by the India Club, attracted 242 players last year. Four new divisions—girls under 10 and12, boys under 10 and12 years have been introduced this time to promote the game among the youngsters. The final of the nearly month-long competition is scheduled for June 8.
Ashdeep Seth, meanwhile beat Rhea Choudhary 21-4, 21-6 in the girls’ under-10 while Mehak S. Lalchandani overcame Arunima Gupta 21-2, 21-4 in the opening matches of the girls’ under-10 singles. And in the boys’ under-10 singles, Gohar Azam defeated Ajay Melwani 21-9, 21-6 while Craig D’Costa ousted Anshuman Uchil 21-4, 21-7.
Chandeep Seth also had a great start as saw he saw off Ajay Melwani 21-10, 21-2 in the boys’ under-12.
The tournament, was earlier, inaugurated by Yash Sinha Consul General of India, in the presence of Sunil Singh, chairman of India Club, Siddharth Balachandran, vice-chairman of the club, Sanjeev Talwar, regional director, Air India, Katta Prasad, marketing director, Western Union Money Transfer for Gulf/ Pakistan and Afghanistan, Adolf Sequeira, marketing manager, Eppco/Caltex ) Col. Vijay B. Dalvi, CEO, India Club and and Kishore Setpal.
The tournament this year is limiting each player to compete in three events, a move initiated by the organisers to give a chance for more players to make it to the top places.
Winners will receive cash prizes, trophies and air tickets, courtesy of Air India, worth approximately Dh50,000.
The participants will battle for top honours in the following categories: Girls under-10 singles, boys under-10 singles, girls under-12 singles, boys under-12 singles, girls under-14 singles, boys under-14 singles, girls under-18 singles, boys under-18 singles, boys under-18 doubles, women’s singles, men’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles, veterans singles (45 years and above), veterans doubles (45 years and above), senior veterans singles (50 years and above), senior veterans doubles (50 years and above) and senior veterans mixed doubles (50 years and above).
The associate sponsors are Khaleej Times, Air India, and 106.2 Hum FM. Pepsi Cola and Eppco Caltex are the co-sponsors.
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