Kohima, October 4: The 3rd Kohima edition of Inter-Department Badminton Tournament, organised by the Inter-Department Badminton Club (IDBC), is set to be held on October 13 and 14 at the multi-purpose hall of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in Kohima.
Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, Shanavas C, serving as the tournament’s convenor, shared this update during a press conference held at his office on Wednesday.
The tournament will feature several team categories, including men’s doubles, with five teams from each department competing.
In addition, there will be women’s doubles, mixed doubles, and a special competition for participants aged 50 and above, including legislators, ex-legislators, and retirees.
For each category, the winners will be awarded INR 15,000, while the runners-up will receive INR 10,000 in prize money.
To participate, each team is required to pay an entry fee of INR 2000, with the deadline for form submission set for October 9.
Entry forms can be obtained either from School Education Directorate, Okusa Toyota showroom at Secretariat area or Sport Inventory, opposite main badminton stadium.
Shanavas reflected on the tournament’s origins, explaining that it was initiated in 2021, following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the primary goal of fostering camaraderie and improved relations among the various departments in Kohima.
While similar competitions existed in other districts, Kohima’s version was introduced in 2021 and is organised by IDBC, a collective of department representatives.
Last year, the tournament saw participation from over 40 departments, with more than 100 teams competing across various categories during its second edition.
Shanavas expressed optimism, anticipating that this year’s edition could attract up to 50 departments, with numerous teams vying for victory.
Shanavas acknowledged the tremendous support received from various departments and the state government, and he expressed the hope that this year’s event would continue to receive such support, ensuring its smooth operation and maintaining the spirit of true sportsmanship.
In terms of participation, Shanavas noted that men’s doubles events tend to draw the most teams, resulting in an allocation of five teams from each department.
In contrast, for women’s doubles and mixed doubles, there is no set upper limit, as they typically do not receive five teams per department.
The organisers welcome the participation of female officers and staff.
With regard to sports infrastructure in Nagaland, Shanavas pointed out that badminton facilities are more prevalent compared to other disciplines, although improvements are still needed.
He mentioned that the Nagaland Badminton Association (NBA) has plans to upgrade the existing State Indoor Stadium in the capital city, adding more badminton courts to accommodate the growing interest.
Shanavas also highlighted their commitment to supporting young and emerging players.
He also revealed that state-level departmental tournaments, organized by the NBA, are in the pipeline for the near future.
(Page News Service)
