The Inter-Zonal and Senior National Badminton Championships will take place between December 18 and 24 at the Karnataka Badminton Association courts in Bengaluru.
The Championships will kick off with the Inter-Zonal team events with the individual competition beginning from December 20. Defending men’s singles champion Chirag Sen and women’s singles winner Anmol Kharb will be looking to retain their respective crowns.
This is the third time that Bengaluru is hosting the senior nationals since the turn of the century and the championships will carry a total prize purse of Rs. 50 lakh, including Rs. 10 lakh for the team championships.
No men’s singles player has been able to retain the title since Chetan Anand achieved the feat in 2006-07, while Saina Nehwal (2006-07 and 2017-18) is the only women’s singles player to win back-to-back titles during the corresponding period.
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In the team events, defending men’s and women’s champions, Airport Authority of India and Maharashtra, have failed to qualify for the Inter-Zonal championships this year after being knocked out at the zonal stage.
In the individual competition, Sen will have to overcome the challenge from world number 34 Priyanshu Rajawat, world number 37 Kiran George, last edition finalist M Tharun and the youngster Pranay Shettigar.
In the women’s category, last edition finalist Tanvi Sharma, the experienced Malvika Bansod, Aakarshi Kashyap, Unnati Hooda, former champion Anupama Upadhayaya and Rakshitha Sree are likely to pose a formidable challenge to Anmol.
Also looking to defend their titles would be mixed doubles champions Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, and Shruti Mishra and Priya Devi Konjengbam in women’s doubles.
There will be a live draw for both the team championships and the individual events on the eve of the respective events.
“This will be the final BAI tournament of the year, it means our calendar aligns with the BWF calendar “ said Badminton Association of India secretary Sanjay Mishra.
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