Bengaluru, August 14: In a dazzling showcase of badminton talent, over 900 gifted young players from every corner of Karnataka took center stage at the 8th edition of the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship 2024. This eagerly anticipated sporting spectacle culminated today in a thrilling finale at the prestigious Hennur Banaswadi Cosmopolitan Club where 10 budding badminton champions emerged victorious in their respective categories.
The audience witnessed exceptional games across various age groups. In the Boys Singles Under 9 category, Sridhar Reddy Saathvik triumphed over Mandanna Nihaan with a score of 17-21, 21-17 & 21-18 while in the Girls Singles Under 9, Balusu Aaradhya Sree defeated Hazel with a score of 21-14 & 24-22.
In the Boys Singles Under 11 category, Sai Danvin emerged victorious against Arer Aarav with a score of 21-15, 19-21 & 21-11 and in the Girls Singles Under 11 category, Sharma Shambhavi outperformed Shariff Sumayyah with a score of 21-16 & 21-18.
The Boys Singles Under 13 category saw Nair Siddharth defeating Nair Gautham in a thrilling match with a score of 21-19, 17-21 & 23-21. In the Girls Singles Under 13 category, Ap Neeharika secured a commanding win against Shetty Livana Kowshik, establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with score of 22-20 & 21-18.
In the Boys Singles Under 15 category, Prakash Chirag continued his impressive run, overcoming Shivarj K in a competitive match with a score of 21-18 & 21-15. Meanwhile, Munoth Tanvi emerged victorious in the Girls Singles Under 15 category with a strong performance against Maney Bhuvi with a score of 21-8 & 21-10.
The Boys Singles Under 17 category featured Chandra Shekar Shreyas who claimed victory over Palakshaiah Swaroop with a score of 21-19 & 25-23, while Siddiqui Zainah in the Girls Singles Under 17 category beat Basavaraj Pavithra with a score of 13-21, 21-9 & 21-16.
The closing ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries including Mr. Manoj Kumar, Honorable President Karnataka Badminton Association, Mr. P Rajesh, Honorable Secretary of Karnataka Badminton Association, A.B Subayyah, President of HBCC Club, and a former Indian hockey team player, Dr S.L Anthony, Vice President of HBCC Club, Mr. Sameer Mishra from PNB MetLife, Shri Shaheen Abbas Nassur, Insurance Manager, Agency Chanel, PNB MetLife, Shri Srinath N Kulkarni, Chief Insurance Manager, Agency Chanel, PNB MetLife & Shri Nagaraja Upadhyay, General Manager, Karnataka Bank. They presented the victorious young athletes with the prestigious JBC Trophy, acknowledging their remarkable achievements.
Mr. Sameer Bansal, MD and CEO at PNB MetLife, enthused, “What an action-packed start to the games. Sports has true power to change lives, not least in helping children build confidence and develop mentally and physically. That’s what drives our commitment to the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship, and on behalf of PNB MetLife, I congratulate the winners and all the players for their enthusiasm and dedication to excellence in badminton.”
The PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship has earned the prestigious distinction of being recognized as the world’s largest junior badminton tournament by the World Record Certification Agency (WRCA) for two consecutive years. This remarkable achievement underscores the championship’s pivotal role in promoting junior badminton excellence in India.
This world record is a testament to the championship’s consistent growth, exceptional organization, and the immense participation it attracts from young badminton enthusiasts across the country.
The event has garnered support from prominent figures in Indian badminton, including Satwik Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Prakash Padukone, Ashwini Ponnappa, Vimal Kumar, and Chetan Anand. These icons lend their expertise to the JBC Boot Camp, an innovative online badminton academy that provides invaluable insights and techniques to help young players refine their skills.
The next phase of this year’s championship is set to take place in Kochi starting from 26th August. We invite everyone to join us at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, as we continue to witness the rise of India’s future badminton legends.
