MBA's dash in favour of school shuttlers
With an idea of uplifting and sharpen school level badminton, the Mercantile Badminton Association ( MBA) had finalised plans to conduct a MBA All Island Age Group Badminton Tournament from May 4 to 12 at the Mercantile Badminton Association Headquarters courts and G. T. Jayasuriya stadium.
The MBA with a large membership conducts their badminton championships participated by the leading players of the island, expects over 1000 school children, both boys and girls to take part in this new addition to the MBA badminton calendar.
Conducted in Under-11, 13 and 15 age groups over nine days this tournament is on the initiative to include a schools' tournament into their calendar. The championship will run on a knock-out basis and all matches will be played according to the rules and regulations of badminton approved by the World Badminton Federation and as adopted by the MBA.
This tournament will open a window for the young and budding shuttlers to catch the attention of the mercantile sector who always waiting with open stretched arms in lending a hand for them to carry the national flag internationally. It is noted that the mercantile sector had employed the cream of Sri Lanka's sportsmen and women which the secret behind that a high standard is witnessed in every tournament that they conducts.
Depending on the number of entries the commencement of the competition can be earlier than the scheduled dates. The tournament committee will have the authority to change the playing structure (from knock-out to qualifying rounds) again, depending on the traffic of participants.
It is a commendable step by the MBA in organising tournaments of this calibre so that the budding shuttlers would be able to rub shoulders with national level players to improve their standard.
Badminton is a highly popular game among school children and if the MBA make arrangements to take the game to the rural area schools and pick the talented lot and bring them under their wings so that the game will be more competitive as the school level competitions are dominated by recognised schools in the capital cities.
Badminton is one game that Sri Lanka participated in Olympic Games and players with world rankings. The MBA can take the game further to a higher position if they include a schools team in their championship tournaments.
Entries were officially closed on April 5.