Sport - Badminton

Tata Open from July 27

MUMBAI: The first Tata Open all-India badminton tournament — a result of the Tata Group’s three-year tie-up with the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy — will be held at the Bombay Gymkhana courts from July 27 to 31.

Anup Sridhar, who will represent the country at the Beijing Olympics, Chetan Anand, Arvind Bhat and Anand Pawar will be the big names in the men’s draw. Former European junior champion, Rajeev Ouseph, currently UK’s No. 1, brings in the foreign element. Sridhar did not attend the pre-event briefing due to an ankle injury, but according to Padukone, will take part.

Saina Nehwal, who will also head to Beijing, appears among the prominent names in the women’s draw, though her confirmation is awaited. Trupti Murgunde, Aditi Mutatkar, B.R. Meenakshi are the other top names.

Padukone stressed on the need for strengthening the domestic circuit for the benefit of emerging players. “We need to have a minimum of five events like these,” he said, stressing on having the right mix of camp and competitions for outstanding talent to make a mark at the international level.

Romit Chaterjee, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, Tata Services Limited, talked about the group’s decision to tie-up with PPBA.

Tata Sons, Tata Capital Limited and Tata Motor Finance are the tournament sponsors, according to Mr. Chaterjee.

The prize money break-up for winners: men’s singles: Rs. 75,000; women’s singles: Rs. 50,000; men’s doubles: Rs. 60,000; women’s doubles: Rs. 35,000, mixed doubles: Rs. 20,000.

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