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Udupi : The 41^st National Junior Badminton Championship 2016 was inaugurated by Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta, President of Badminton Association of by cutting the ribbon on Monday, 12^th December, 2016 at Indoor Stadium Ajjarkad near here. The national tournament jointly organized by Udupi District Badminton Association, Badminton Association of India, Youth Empowerment and Sports Department Govt of Karnataka, Manipal University.

The inaugural program began with invocation prayer song. Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of Sports, Fisheries and Youth Empowerment, Karnataka State. Dr. Akilesh Das Gupta former Union Minister and President of BAI, Oscar Fernandes member of Rajya Sabha, Blossom Fernandes, Union of India, Dr. H. S. Ballal Pro chancellor of Manipal University, K; Raghupathy Bhat former MLA and Secretary of Udupi Badminton Association, Abhyachandra Jain, MLA and former Sports Minister, T. Gautam Pai Managing Director of Manipal Technologies Ltd, Kishore Alva Joint President of Adani Group, Narasimhamoorthy President of UDAU, Dr. Prashanth Shetty District Commandant of Home Gourds, Udupi, Udaykaumar Shetty, Manohar Shetty, Yashpal Suvarna, Ashok Kumar Shetty, B. P Singh, Vijay Saraswath, N. C. Sudhir, P. R. Mohanlal, Nagaraj M. J. and other among were present on the dais.

Raghupathy Bhat gave introduction talk and welcomed the gatherings. Speakaing on the occasion Dr. Akilesh Das Gupta said that the badminton game is popular in north eastern states of India. But all over the country youngsters are interested in the game. It is happy to say that except Nagaland all states young players are participated in this tournament which will be the great. There is no exclusive academy for juniors in the country. Even though the Badminton Association of India offered Rs. 25 lakh and additional 5 lakh to the Udupi Badminton Association for the successful 41^st national junior badminton tournament, no funds will be allotted to the badminton associations in India. I will be great privilege that Udupi Badminton Association organized such a beautiful procession and national level tournament. He will support foreign coach and support the association, he said.

Dr. H. S. Ballal during his address offered all support from Manipal University for the young players. Oscar Fernandes in his address pointed out the development of Udupi Badminton Association. Abhyachandra Jain former sports minister briefed some of his contribution to the development of sports in the state.

In his presidential address, Pramod Madhwaraj opined that both central government and state government should give top priority for the sports which we may seen that such a large country not able to find gold in Olympic games. The funds which offered to the sports might be very less. The support from the both the government for the various games needed. Along with the government NGO’s of the country should give support to our sportsmen.

Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta released the balloons to the air during the occasion. T. Gautam pai inaugurated the cultural programme.

M. A. Gaffor, officials of UBA, officials of Badminton Association of India and other dignitaries along with near about 600 players were present.