The 2023 National Junior Badminton Championship has commenced at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex in Karachi, featuring young talents in the Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19 categories.
This prestigious sporting event is jointly organized by the Sindh Badminton Association and the Pakistan Badminton Federation. Highlighting the significance of the tournament, Senior Vice President of the National Bank of Pakistan, Kamran Khalid, emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting young athletes by providing them with a platform to showcase their skills. He assured that this support will continue in the future.
Pakistan Badminton Federation Vice President, Farhan Lashari, explained the annual tradition of the National Junior Championship, emphasizing that it serves as a vital part of their developmental initiatives. Under the federation’s guidance, young players are provided with comprehensive training and the opportunity to compete. The tournament spans four days and includes both singles and doubles competitions, with participation from both boys and girls.
Lashari acknowledged the financial challenges of badminton as an expensive sport, primarily due to the need to import shuttlecocks from abroad. However, he noted that the Pakistan Badminton Federation is dedicated to promoting the sport and highlighted the support received from Wajid Ali Chaudhry, Chairman of Asia Badminton, as a significant boost to their efforts.
MM News also interviewed coaches who shared their perspectives on the event. Sajid Hussain, the coach of the Punjab team, emphasized that such tournaments are essential for nurturing young talent and expressed optimism about the future of badminton in Pakistan. Hayatullah, the coach of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team, mentioned their past success and their determination to win the title once again.
Coaches from different teams and members of the Sindh Badminton Association underlined the importance of supporting young athletes at the grassroots level, asserting that when children participate in sports, their talents shine through.
Tournament referee Nadeem Javed stressed the significance of providing quality training to children at the grassroots level. He emphasized that supporting this talent can enable them to represent the country in international competitions and called for more such tournaments to be conducted.
MM News also gathered the views of young participants who expressed their desire for more tournaments of this kind to foster their learning and development in the sport.
