JAIPUR: Rajasthan will host two All India Ranking Badminton tournaments this season, according to the latest yearly calendar released by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Saturday.
The national governing body of sports has once again allotted Rajasthan Badminton Association (RBA) two All India Ranking tourneys this year 2023-24. It was confirmed by RBA secretary KK Sharma while talking to TOI here on Saturday.
"This year again we were given the responsibility to host two important All India Ranking tournaments. The BAI annual calendar did not mention the venues, but RBA has already decided the host districts. The senior’s tournament will be held in Jodhpur, while the junior’s tournament will be played in Udaipur," said Sharma.
Last season, Jaipur hosted the All India Sub-Junior U-15 and U-17 tournament at the SMS Stadium in Jaipur, while the veterans tournament was held at Udaipur. This season, Jaipur will not host any national-level tourney.
"As a secretary of the state, we must promote badminton to all the corners of the state. There was heavy demand from Jodhpur district to organise a major tournament this season so we have given them the All India Senior Ranking tournament. Udaipur too has good badminton infrastructure, and they will host the All India Junior U-19 tournament," said Sharma, who is one of the most senior officials of the BAI.
The All India Junior tourney will be held from November 4 to 10 at Udaipur, while the seniors meet will take place from January 22 to 28, 2024 at Jodhpur.
Sharma, who is the chairman of the BAI’s age fraud committee, has also hinted that the RBA will soon announce the state calendar.
"We were waiting for the BAI to announce its yearly calendar. Now it has been out, we will now gear up to conduct the state tournaments in various categories," added Sharma.
