Junior shuttlers in Cheers Youth Open

The Sri Lanka badminton Association is giving that much needed exposure to rural youth at district level. Harnessing talented players from the emerging schools has paid dividends. After trials held at district level. Kandy, Galle, Ambalangoda, Gampaha Kalutara, Colombo etc., a 48 member squad (both boys and girls) were picked for the Cheers Youth International Championship 2006, in Singapore starting from Nov. 27 to December 2 at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall.

21 countries drawn from Asia – including Australia and New Zealand will vie for honours. The team will be managed by Jayasena Egodage. Besides him, seven other officials (masters and games mistresses) will accompany the team.

It’s a much look forward to championship said Oliver Guruge a senior official of the SLBA. It’s being organized by the Singapore Badminton Association, in collaboration with Singapore Sports Council.

It is a ranking tournament approved by Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC).

Plenty of prize money is on offer for the winners, runners up and semi-finalists amounting to $9,785 (Singapore dollars). The scoring system will be in accordance to IBF rules.

Participants (boys/girls) on the following age groups – Under 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19. Practice courts will be available from Nov. 26 on a first come first serve basis.

Some of the best junior shuttlers from the Asian region will take part. According to Louis Karunaratne a senior coach of the SLBA.

-BW