The Indian Badminton Association – Kuwait ; IBAK conducted the Annual Interschool Badminton Tournament on 8th December,2017 which attracted over 200 badminton players from nine premier schools of Kuwait. The Indian Badminton Association has been holding the inter-school competition for the last 6 years successfully and this is in line with its vision of INSPIRE, TRAIN, ACHIEVE.

All of the schools participated in the tourney with great enthusiasm and spirit. The schools that took part were schools were Bhavans School Abbasiya, DPS – FAIPS Ahmadi, Indian community school, Don Bosco, Carmel School, SIMS, GIS, ILOA, Indian central school. Many children were allowed to participate as “OPEN” category participants since there was no official representation from their respective schools.

DPS girls proved their supremacy with deft touches and powerful smashes across the court much to the surprise of their opponents. They grabbed U-14 singles, U-16 singles, U-19 singles. Bhavans Kuwait clinched the U-12 boys’ singles, U-14 boys’ singles and doubles titles.

The overall championship rolling trophy was presented to the proud DPS boys and girls in the presence of the guests and ardent followers of badminton in Kuwait. The runner-up was Bhavans and second runners up were Indian Central School.

The winners of U-19 doubles were Aidan Anesh Mathew and Allen Anesh Mathew who defeated Kiran M.U and Abhinay Shine in finals. U1-16 doubles champions were Sayooj Ajaykumar and Dharshan Ramesh who thrashed Gavril George and Tarun Velicheti in finals. Meanwhile, girls were battling for the supremacy where Niyati Pradeep and Hanah Binu defeated Niveditha Naredranath and Mona Tamer in U-19 Girls doubles. In U-14 girls doubles, Vali Gengadharan and Srisha Nagapadma crowned the champions by defeating Amrita Anaikumar and Hisana Batharu.

Kids showed their real talents and skills in singles of different age groups. Dhruva Bharadwaj maintained his position at the top in Boys U-12 and U-14 singles. Sayooj Ajaykumar remained unbeatable champion in Boys U-16 singles. Chris Sijo, Amrita Anaikumar, Valli Gangadharan, Niyati Pradee, Hanah Binu were the singles campions in Boys U-19 singles, Girls U-12 Singles, Girls U-14 Singles, Girls U-16 Singles, Girls U-19 Singles respectively.

IBAK thanks its untiring committee members who worked hard to mark the completion of yet another successful tournament. As has become the habit in recent times, the efforts were appreciated by the crowd, players and school management. The chief guest of the day was the Principal of Indian Community School (junior branch), Mrs.Sherly Dennis. IBAK committee thanked her for the commitment and unstinting support that has helped the conduct of a successful event.