Date:01/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/01/stories/2004080107101600.htm

Sport - Badminton

Kurien given pride of place

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 31. International Thomas Kurien has been given the top billing in the 20th TKV memorial all-Kerala ranking badminton tournament, which gets underway at the Indoor Recreation Centre on Sunday.

Former champion Jaison Xavier is seeded number two in the tournament conducted by the SBT Staff Recreation club. The field is strong in the men's section with the presence of almost all the top players from the State in fray.

Former national champion George Thomas, Jaseel P. Ismail, Sanave Thomas, George Thomas, K.A. Aneesh, Ayyappan Krishnan and Joy T. Antony are some of the players, whose performances will be keenly watched. Fathima Nazreen and Aparna Balan have pulled out of the tournament since they were asked to attend the national camp in Bangalore this week. In their absence, the fight for supremacy will be between Neema Lakshmi, Miral George and Merit George.

The three-day tournament will be inaugurated by Mr. G. Ram Mohan Rao, General Manager (operations) of the State Bank of Travancore.