Modi International badminton tourney cancelled

The country's richest prize-money event, has been cancelled owing to differences between the UPBA and the state government, reports Saji Chacko.

The syed Modi International badminton tournament, the country's richest prize-money event with a purse of Rs 8 lakhs, has been cancelled owing to differences between the Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association (UPBA) and the state government.

HT Image

Speaking to HT from Lucknow, Vijay Sinha, UPBA secretary, said that they were left with no option but to cancel the tournament. “Certain factors have forced us to cancel the tournament. Hopefully, things will be different next year,” said Sinha.

The bone of contention is the ongoing construction of the UPBA academy, where the state government wants to build a library in memory of freedom fighter Ram Manohar Lohia.

But, the UPBA is averse to any such construction within the premises of the academy and thus the deadlock. ‘We were left with no option but to stop all construction work at the premises,” said Sinha.

As to why the vent could not have be held at the KD Singh 'Babu' Stadium, which had hosted it on earlier occasions, Sinha said that the availability of just two courts made it impossible for a major tournament to be held there.

“This year we have received a lot of entries. This meant that the tournament could no longer be conducted on just two courts,” he said.