Shuttle awards tomorrow

by Ananda Kannangara

The award presentation to the winners of the `All Island Age Group Badminton Championship’, conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association (SLSBA) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) will take place at Royal College Sports Complex tomorrow (October 23) at 4.30 pm.

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) Chief Executive Officer Shuhei Anan will be the chief guest.

Speaking at a press briefing, SLSBA, President Upali Gunasekara said that over 5,500 shuttlers from 160 schools represented the preliminary rounds age group championships and 642 boys and 573 girls were selected to the final rounds.

The winners will be selected from the final rounds, which were conducted at Royal College Sports Complex, Colombo, S. Thomas’ College Sports Complex, Mt. Lavinia, Musaeus College, Colombo and Sri Lanka Badminton Association grounds in Colombo from October 19 to 23.

SLSBA, Vice President Jagath Patabendige commended the high performances made by school children in distant areas at the preliminary rounds.

He said this tournament will be extended to many more schools in the country next year including in the North and East.
President, SLBA Sumith Guruge said that their main intention was to popularise badminton in rural areas and conduct the next Badminton Championship on a grand scale.

Sri Lanka Telecom, D. Samson Industries and the Yonex Sunrise Ltd of Singapore are the main sponsors of the tournament.