NWPBA Open Badminton Tourney from Feb. 26

Badminton

By Susil Premalal

The North Western Province Badminton Association (NWPBA), All-Island Open National Ranking Level-1 Badminton Championship will be held from February 26 to March 3 at the Vijayabahu Infantry Regimental Sports Complex in Boyagane and the Municipal Council Indoor Stadium in Kurunegela.

The first-round matches of the seven-day competition will be conducted on February 27, 28 and 29 while the quarter-finals and semi-finals have been slotted to take place on March 1 and 2, followed by the finals and awards presentation ceremony on March 3.

Over 70 events have been lined up in the open, junior, senior and plate categories under Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles for Men and Women.

The open category will include Singles and Doubles for  Men and Women and a Mixed Doubles event while the junior category, which features five age categories from Under-11 to Under-19, will have Singles and Doubles for Boys’ and Girls’.

The senior category will begin from the Over-30 segment and will include nine age groups up to Over-70 with shuttlers expected to compete under Singles and Doubles for Men and Women and Mixed Doubles.

The losing competitors from the Open category will be drafted to the Plate segment, excluding the ranked and national players.