The inter-zonal and national senior badminton championships will be held from December 18 to 24 at the Karnataka Badminton Association courts in Bengaluru.
The championship will begin with inter-zonal team competitions, and on December 20, individual competitions will begin. Defending men’s singles champion Chirag Sen and women’s singles winner Anmol Kharb will look to retain their crowns.
This is the third time that Bengaluru is hosting the seniors since the turn of the century and the total prize money for the championship will be Rs. 50 thousand, including 50 thousand 10 lakh for the team championship.
No men’s player has managed to defend the title since Chetan Anand achieved it in the 2006–07 season, and Saina Nehwal (2006–07 and 2017–18) is the only women’s player to win back-to-back titles in the corresponding period.
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In the team event, the defending men’s and women’s champions, Airports Authority of India and Maharashtra, failed to qualify for the inter-zonal championship this year after being eliminated at the zonal stage.
In the individual competition, Sen will face a challenge from world No. 34 Priyanshu Rajawat, World No. 37 Kiran George, last edition’s finalist M. Tharun and youngster Pranay Shettigar.
In the women’s category, last edition’s finalist Tanvi Sharma, experienced Malvika Bansod, Aakarshi Kashyap, Unnati Hooda, former champion Anupama Upadhyaya and Rakshitha Sree are likely to pose a formidable challenge to Anmol.
In women’s doubles, mixed doubles champions Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto and Shruti Mishra and Priya Devi Konjengbam will also defend their titles.
There will be a live draw for both the team championships and individual events on the eve of each event.
“This will be the last BAI tournament of the year, which means our calendar is in line with the BWF calendar,” said Badminton Association of India secretary Sanjay Mishra.
