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Kanitkar, Firoza get top billing: MIG Badminton Nikhil Kanitkar and Rajeev Bagga were seeded first and second respectively for the first ...

Kanitkar, Firoza get top billing: MIG Badminton Nikhil Kanitkar and Rajeev Bagga were seeded first and second respectively for the first Senior State Selection Badminton tournament to be conducted by the MIG Club, Bandra from July 29 to August 2, 1998.

In the women8217;s section, Firoza Batliwala has been given top billing. The tournament will be conducted in four categories. Apart from the two mentioned above, matches will also be played for the men8217;s and women8217;s doubles title.

The event has received good response with most of the noted State players vying for top homours. Maximum entries have been recieved in the men8217;s singles group with as many as 46 players in the fray. The group also boasts the highest winner8217;s cheque of Rs 12,000 from the total prize-money of Rs 60,000 which will be at stake.

The event to be held on two venues viz; MIG and Khar Gymkhana, is being co-sponsored by Pepsi, Shaw Wallace and Hindustan Lever. The Indian Badminton Federation chief and former Indian international,Prakash Padukone is expected to give away the prizes.

THE SEEDS
Men8217;s Singles: 1-Nikhil Kanitkar, 2-Rajeev Bagga, 3-Mayur Tawade, 4-Vikrant Patwardhan, 5-Vincent Lobo, 6-Sanket Shetty, 7-Nimish Goel, 8-Arindam Roy Choudhary.

Doubles: 1-Mayur Tawade amp; Hemant Hardikar, 2-Rajeev bagga amp; Milind Gahte, 3-Bhushan Akut amp; Leroy D8217;Sa, 4-Nikhil Kanitkar amp; Vincent Lobo.Women8217;s Singles: 1-Firoza Batliwala, 2-Nazneen Karimi.

Doubles: 1-Sim Sim Salaria amp; Kranti Sane, 2-Firoza Batliwala amp; Vinaya Shetty.Team for Karate World CupThe Japan Karate Association of India have announced the Indian team for the World Cup conducted by the Japan Karate Association World Federation and to be held from July 30 to August 2 at Paris. The team is headed by Anand Ratna, the techincal head of the Shotokan Style in India. The other members are Stephen Leong, Damang Synkon, Linza Fenny Syiem Meghalaya, Neeraj Dhawan Delhi, DK Bose West Bengal, Pranab Das Assam, Sooraz D8217;Souza, and Vijeyendra Singh Maharashtra.