Group photo of winners.

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 28: The Indian Badminton Association of Kuwait (IBAK) hosted the IBAK SLAM 2024, a historic event marking the first-ever Masters Badminton Tournament under the Seniors category.

Held at the IBAK Salwa Gym, the event showcased exceptional performances, camaraderie, and sportsmanship among seasoned players from around the world.

The highly anticipated tournament featured six competitive teams -- Team India, Team Malaysia, Team Canada, IBAK All Stars, IBAK Torpedoes and Smashing Stars -- bringing together badminton enthusiasts for a thrilling display of skill.

The Chief Guest, Mr. Praveen Singh, Director (Financial Services Group) at Al Mulla Group, lauded the vibrant gathering of talented athletes, stating: “It is an absolute pleasure to witness such passion and dedication. This event is not just about victories but also about creating unforgettable experiences and lasting friendships.”

The tournament was officially declared open on Nov 21, 2024, by special guest Ms. Aishah A. R. Al-Otaibi, CEO of Aspire Kuwait.

She commended IBAK’s initiative to promote inclusivity and physical activity, emphasizing the importance of fostering a healthy lifestyle and building a strong sense of community through sports.

Over three days of intense competition, the IBAK All Stars emerged champions in the team event, securing their victory with exceptional teamwork and strategy.

The tournament also featured an Open category, including events such as Mixed Doubles +40, Men's and Women's Doubles, and Singles categories for various age groups.

Players from diverse countries, including India, Canada, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia and more, participated in the tournament, showcasing their expertise and determination.

Highlights of Open Category Results

Mixed Doubles +40 -- 1st place Prabagaran Subbaiyan & Jayashree Raghu; 2nd place Jabbar Farooqui & Irawati Dwi Nofita; 3rd place Tamil Muthu & Vidhya Jayapal

Women Doubles +40 -- 1st place Ainur Jubail D & Gigi Emperialde, 2nd place Cheryl Magsayo Manaytay & Jeanette Tantiangco; 3rd place Shaina Ajayakumar & Vidhya Jayapal

Men Doubles +50 -- 1st place Maheswaran K & Dr. Tamer Raafat, 2nd place Rizqi Budi Raharjo & Manimara Chozhan Regunathan and 3rd place Ramesh Chandra T Nagaraj & Gnanasambantham T

Men Doubles +45 – 1st place Jafree Bin Ramly+Tiean How Tan, 2nd place Shiroj Joseph+Ramesh Chandra Tarikere Nagaraj and 3rd place Dileep Karunakaran+Rakesh Nair

Men Doubles +40 – 1 st place Maheswaran K+Subin Varghese, 2nd place Hisham Ezzi+Pratap Kumar M and 3rd place Sherwin Medina Felizardo+Santhosh R

Women Singles +40 -- Jayashree Raghu  1st place, 2nd place Rio Calicdan, 3rd place Ferrer Fazeela Abdul Khader

Men Singles +50 – 1st place Dr. Tamer Raafat, 2nd place Manimara Chozhan Regunathan, 3rd place Prabagaran Subbaiyan

Men Singles +40 -- 1st place Hisham Ezzi, 2nd place Vincent dela Cruz Reyes and 3rd place Srinivas G Reddy

IBAK Chairman, Dr. Manimara Chozhan, expressed gratitude to sponsors including Aspire Systems, Al Mulla Group, Kout Food Group and Marafie Engineering Group for their support in making the event a grand success.

He went on to say, “This tournament is a milestone for IBAK and the badminton community in Kuwait. It reflects our commitment to fostering the sport among senior players.”

Continuing its vision of promoting badminton in Kuwait, IBAK announced its upcoming 11th Inter-School Badminton Tournament, scheduled for December 5-6, 2024.

IBAK SLAM 2024 not only celebrated athletic excellence but also reinforced the growing badminton community in Kuwait, fostering a spirit of unity, health, and sportsmanship.

For more information, visit www.ibakwt.org or contact [email protected].

By Paulo Francisco X. Fernandes

Arab Times/Al-Seyassah Staff