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| Sunday, 14 August 2005 |
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Keen contests expected from quarter-finals of International Badminton C'ships by Lal Gunasekera Fifty one entries have so far been received from eight countries for the Sri Lanka International Satellite Championship conducted by the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) sanctioned by both the International Badminton Federation (IBF) and Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Complex from August 25 to 28. Tournament Director, Oliver Guruge, addressing a media briefing on Friday evening at Hotel Continental, said that they had extended the final date for entries till tomorrow (Monday) as they are expecting Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives Islands too to respond favourably. The countries that have already confirmed sending their top shuttlers (both men and women) are Thailand, Malaysia, Iran, Iraq, Singapore, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka with the Indians sending 20 players. He further said that 12 slots have been given to Sri Lanka's men and women for the singles where they will be pitted against overseas opposition in the first-round. Iran and Iraq will be sending their players to Colombo early to be trained by Lankan coaches before the tournament. Oliver Guruge also disclosed that US Dollars 5,000 will be on offer as prize money with the men's singles winner getting US Dollars 520, women's singles US Dollars 350, men's doubles US Dollars 310 and US Dollars 305 to the winners of women's doubles and mixed doubles. Ajith Wijeyesinghe, the Referee for the Satellite, said that this was "one of the best" that he has been involved in after been to Satellite events in five other countries and that the level of badminton could be quite and expect keen contests from the quarter-final stages onwards. He thanked Sumith Guruge (President of SLBA) and his team for marketing this event successfully and disclosed that all technical aspects will be handled by Sri Lankans. The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Jayanthan Kulasingham, thanked Hotel Continental for the "wonderful deal" that was given to the SLBA and also to SriLankan Airlines who has given "attractive packages" for the overseas players to come to Colombo. He said that several overseas dignitaries are expected in Colombo, and that the SLBA, are also to make special recognition awards known as "Distinguish Doyen of Badminton" to those who have contributed to develop Badminton in Sri Lanka (the names were not divulged) and that the IBF too are to award their "Meritorious Awards" to two officials of the SLBA. The SLBA has also negotiated with ABC to conduct a coaches seminar by the ABC Development Officer, Shrikanth Vad, just before the Satellite Championship. The SLBA have conducted two Satellite Tournaments earlier in 1998 and 2003. |
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