The much-anticipated Victor Mini Punjab State Ranking Badminton Tournament began with great enthusiasm at the Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium, Jalandhar, drawing young talent from across the state. The tournament was formally inaugurated by Mayor of Jalandhar, Sh. Vaneet Dhir, who graced the event as the chief guest.
In his inaugural address, Sh. Vaneet Dhir emphasized the significance of sports in a child’s development. “Sports play a vital role in the overall development of children. They help build physical fitness, improve coordination, and promote a healthy lifestyle. Beyond physical benefits, sports teach important life skills such as teamwork, discipline, leadership, and resilience.
Participating in sports also boosts self-esteem and encourages social interaction, helping children grow into confident and well-rounded individuals,” he said. Providing details about the event, Punjab Badminton Association Secretary Ritin Khanna shared that the three-day tournament will feature 280 matches across 8 categories for Under-11 and Under-13 boys and girls.
Approximately 250 players from various districts of Punjab are participating. Special arrangements for food and refreshments have been made to ensure the comfort of the young athletes. Winners will be awarded cash prizes and attractive gifts during the prize distribution ceremony on June 1.
In a move towards greater transparency, Khanna added that for the first time, the tournament draws were videographed and streamed live on the official Facebook page of the Punjab Badminton Association. A special highlight of the event was the felicitation of international badminton player Lakshay Sharma, who was honored with a cash award by Mayor Vaneet Dhir.
Lakshay recently brought laurels to Punjab by clinching a silver medal at the All India Senior Ranking Tournament held in Hyderabad. BAI approved umpires Vilas Hans and Varun Kumar are officiating as referees, while Dhiraj Sharma is serving as the Organising Secretary of the tournament.
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