SLB to host two BWF event in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) has beean awarded the rights to host two international badminton events in 2024 by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the world governing body of badminton. Accordingly, Sri Lanka will host the Li-Ning Sri Lanka International Challenge from February 5 to 11 followed by Li-Ning Sri Lanka International Series from February 12 to 18.
The timing of the two events significantly coincides with the tourist season of the south coast and the two events are scheduled to be worked out at the Sports Complex in Dadella, Galle, one of the main tourist destination of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has not hosted an International Open Badminton event for the past nine years, and this event will be the ideal platform to showcase the country’s development of infrastructure facilities presently available. In the technical aspects, Sri Lanka now boasts of internationally accredited/certified technical officials, who also will get the opportunity of officiating at the international stage. The public too will have the opportunity of witnessing an international badminton tournament on home soil, competed amongst some of the top shuttlers from the island as well as internationlly.
The upcoming two events will also serve as an opportunity for badminton players to obtain world ranking points, which are vital to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. So far, SLB has received over 500 entries from foreign participants, within the 500 top world ranked players from the entire membership of BWF numbering from over 20 countries.
The two international tournaments aim to bring together players from various countries providing a platform for healthy competition and fostering the growth of badminton talent in Sri Lanka. These events will gain significant recognition and experience, attracting national players as well.
The Ministry of Sports has played a pivotal role in supporting and promoting sports activities that contribute to the overall development of the athletes and the nation, while the Ministry of Tourism and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotional Bureau also have extended their assistance in making the upcoming event a successful one. SLB is partnered by its regular sponsors Li-Ning, Mobil, McFoil, 3M, Rovin, who have pledged their support for local as well as international tournaments.