Pune Sport

Amit Khishti Table Tennis to commence on August 19The second Amit Khishti Memorial district ranking table tennis tournament will be held ...

Amit Khishti Table Tennis to commence on August 19
The second Amit Khishti Memorial district ranking table tennis tournament will be held at the Sharada Sports Centre from August 19 to 23.

The tournament will be held in the following categories: men8217;s, women, junior boys and girls, sub-junior boys and girls, cadet boys and girls, amateurs and minis. The Amateurs8217; group was introduced in the tournament last year 8212; for the first time in the country, with the purpose of encouraging participation from the general public. The Minis8217; section this year 8212; under-10 8212; is a sequel to the same.

The tournament, which has been made possible through individual collections from around 500 people, has the highest prize money at the district level.

Entry forms are available at the various clubs, and entries can also be given to Prasad Phadke between 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. The last date for entry is August 16.

Those interested may contact Upendra Mulye 8212; tournament secretary, or Ashutosh Puntambekar for further details.

Rajiv Gandhi badminton from Aug 17
The Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Badminton championship, which will get underway at the WIE Sports Complex from August 17, has been given a boost with entries being thrown open to all the juniors shuttlers in the country. The championship is being organised by Pavilion Club. Giving details, organising secretary Abhay Chhajed said that the tournament has been elevated to All India status from this year, and has attracted over 350 entries from all over the country. It was on the behest of Badminton Association of India BAI executive president Prakash Padukone that a junior level tournament on an all-India basis has been introduced. The competition will be held in three age groups under-10, under-13 and under-16, offering a total prize money of Rs 25,000, Chhajed said.

Entries have been confirmed from Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab. As per tradition, Suresh Phalnikar 8212; vice-president, Pune District and Metropolitan Badminton Association PDMBA 8212; and umpire Ramesh Patil will be presented with the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Award for their outstanding services to the game. Indian Olympic Association IOA president Suresh Kalmadi and ace shuttler Prakash Padukone will be the guests of honour on the occasion, while builder and sponsor Vimal Kumar Jain will preside over the prize distribution function, Chhajed added.