Pune to host World Junior Badminton Championship

Pune, Jun 18 (UNI) The city will host the World Junior Badminton Championship (BAI), at the ultra modern indoor stadium, which is under construction, at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City Mahalunge-Balewadi near here from October 24 to November 2.

The shuttle game is among the nine disciplines showcasing the third edition of the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) to get underway here from October 12 to 18, 2008 and as such the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has spruced up facilities to host the premier World level event.

The BAI Chief V K Verma, who is also the Secretary General of the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC), replying to queries explained that the main aim behind hosting the event was to grab the global attention that India has developed the world class sports facilities to host any world championship.

Commenting about the only two players -- Anup Sridhar and Saina Nehval -- who have qualified to take part in the Beijing Olympics, Mr Verma said ''We have a very talented and promising string of junior players, who will certainly make the headway in near future to make the country proud.'' Both Sridhar and Saina, being ranked among the top-30 by the BWF, have been performing creditably in various international tournaments recently. Saina, who has been the finalist of the 2006 edition of the world junior event held at Incheon also reached the last four stage in the Singapore event couple of days back, Mr Verma pointed out.

City MP Suresh Kalmadi, who is the organising committee Chairman of the 2008 CYG as also the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi, disclosed that following the BAI many other events like the world Railway Games and international athletic events have been lined up to be utilised the impeccable ultra-modern sports facilities after the conclusion of the 2008 CYG.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Chief also advocated that the use of the facilities should be a continuous process in hosting national coaching camps apart from organising international and world events.

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