Jalandhar, May 19
The 4-day Punjab State Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament commenced today at the iconic Raizada Hansraj Badminton Stadium, Jalandhar. Organised under the aegis of the Punjab Badminton Association, the tournament will continue till May 22, 2026.
The championship was inaugurated by Chief Guest Amritpal Singh Sukhanand, MLA and President of the Punjab Badminton Association. Addressing the gathering, Sukhanand said that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is committed to transforming the state’s sports ecosystem with a focused vision to steer youth away from drugs and channelise their energy towards sports and other constructive activities.
Sukhanand stated that, for the first time in Punjab’s history, the sports budget has witnessed a massive increase from Rs. 350 crore to Rs. 1,791 crores reflecting the government’s serious commitment towards sports development. He also appreciated the efforts of the association in promoting badminton at the grassroots level across the state.
Sharing details of the event, PBA Honorary Secretary Ritin Khanna informed that the tournament has received an overwhelming response, with over 600 entries from nearly 400 players representing 23 districts of Punjab. Competitions are being conducted in 10 events across the Under-15 and Under-17 categories for boys and girls. Total 500 matches will be played in the next 4 days. The finals will be played on May 22 and winners will be presented with cash prizes and other attractive rewards. Khanna further informed that special arrangements for food and refreshments have been made to ensure the comfort and convenience of players and coaches throughout the tournament.
In an emotional tribute, the association honoured the memory of Late Mayank Sharma and Sahib, two promising young badminton players of the state who tragically lost their lives in separate road accidents. To commemorate their contribution and passion for the sport, two running trophies in the Under-15 and Under-17 categories respectively have been instituted in their memory.
Jalandhar’s international badminton player Manya Ralhan was also felicitated by the Chief Guest with a cash award of Rs. 31,000 for winning a bronze medal at the Saint Denis Open held in France. Among others present on the occasion were DBA Treasurer Palwinder Juneja, Harpreet Singh,Jaswant Singh, Punjab Masih, Dhiraj Sharma, Sachin Ratti, Varun Kumar and several prominent members of the badminton fraternity.
