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MUMBAI: The Tata group, in its long term endeavour to support sports, today announced the commencement of Tata Open India International Challenge 2010 in Mumbai. This year Tata Open has achieved a unique milestone by attracting players from leading nations in South & South East Asia which include Indonesia, Malaysia Singapore, Bangladesh, Nepal and Thailand. The Tata group along with Tata Capital has sponsored the tournament with the prize fund of US$ 15,000 (Approx Rupees Six lakh Seventy five thousand)
Tata group along with Tata Capital has extended the relationship with Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy for next 3 years (August 2010 - July 2013). As part of this association, three Tata Padukone Badminton Centres are currently being run in Bengaluru, Pune & Mumbai. These centres aim at providing world-class training to improve skills and further harness the young flourishing Badminton talent in India.
Tata Open India International Challenge 2010 has been organized by Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) under the auspices of Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA) and will get underway at state-of-the-art India?s first air conditioned badminton courts at the Cricket Club of India (CCI), Mumbai from December 21 to December 25, 2010. The qualifying rounds of the tournament will be held on 21st December and the main draw will commence from 22nd to 25th December. The points earned in this tournament will qualify for world ranking points. The finals will be held on 25th December.
In the Men?s Singles category, the leading International players like Alamsyah Yonus who was the Indian Grand Prix Gold Tournament winner at Chennai, Tommy Sugiarto (Son of Former World Champion Icuk Sugiatro), Misbun Ramdan (Son of Malaysian Great Misbun Sidek) and six other strong Malaysian Singles players, Thailand Players, Stanislav Pukhov a Russian player and Daniel Gouw from USA will be playing along with top Indian players like Anup Sridhar, Aravind Bhat, Ajay Jayaram, Anand Pawar etc.
In the Women?s singles category, top Indonesian players such as Ana Rovita, Fransiska Ratnasari will be the main attraction along with Indian National Champion Trupti Murgunde, Sayali Gokhale & P V Sindhu the National Junior Champion.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Atul Agrawal, Vice President?Corporate Affairs, Tata Services Ltd. said ?Sports has been an integral part of the Tata way of life and the Tata group endeavors to develop talent by providing a unique platform to Badminton players. He further added, ?This year we are taking Tata Open to an international level and we are very happy to extend our relationship with PPBA for next 3 years. We wish our players all the best and are sure that they will find the tournament an exciting experience?
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Amar Sinhji, Head- HR, Tata Capital Ltd said, ?Tata Capital is a young company in the Tata Group and we constantly seek out noble ways to identify and support young and emerging talent. We are extremely honored to be supporting the Tata Open India International Challenge 2010. By supporting such sincere and genuine initiatives of Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, we feel proud of having invested in an initiative that gives young players a chance to realize their potential in a tough and demanding sport like Badminton. Tata Capital conveys its best wishes to the young aspirants to battle it out for the coveted Tata Open 2010 Trophy.?
Mr. Prakash Padukone, Director, Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, said, ?Mumbai has not witnessed a good international badminton tournament for a long time and this year we have received participation from young promising players coming from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Mumbaikers will be able to see the future champions of the world. I am grateful to Tata?s to upgrade this event to an international level. I am also thankful to Yonex and CCI for associating with us and I hope this event becomes an annual affair?.
Tata Open India International Challenge Badminton tournament 2010 has been organized by Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) under the auspices of Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA) and Badminton Association of India (BAI). For more information on this please log on to www.ppba.in
The Tata group has a rich tradition of contributing towards sports such as tennis, archery, billiards, football, hockey and athletics among others. The Tata group?s association with sports goes back to more than three quarters of a century. The Tata Sports Club was formed, to encourage sports and sportspeople within and outside the group. The Club‘s endeavours have been directed at spotting and developing potential by providing an early platform for individuals to realize their ambitions in sports.
Yonex will be the official equipment supplier for the tournament & is hosted by Cricket Club of India, Mumbai. Radio City is the official Radio partner for this exciting tournament.
