The sporting calendar in Jaipur is set for a vibrant close to the year with a major badminton event. The Jaipur District Badminton Association (JDBA) has officially announced the staging of the Shri O N Dixit Memorial Winter Jaipur District Open Badminton Championship and Veteran Selection Trials. The tournament will be held at the iconic Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Stadium from December 23 to 28, promising six days of intense competition.
Event Details and Participation
Addressing the media, JDBA secretary Manoj Dasot revealed that the annual tournament is expected to draw around 500 players across a wide age spectrum. In a testament to the sport's inclusive and lifelong appeal, participants from the age of 11 years to 75 years are eligible to compete. The events will include singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches across various age categories for both boys and girls, as confirmed by JDBA treasurer Atul Gupta.
The competition will be conducted in the indoor badminton hall of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Aspiring participants must note that the last date for submission of entries is December 21, until 5 PM. Entries can be submitted at the stadium's indoor badminton hall itself or at various designated badminton academies across the city.
Organisational Setup and Honouring a Legacy
The JDBA has appointed KK Mathur as the tournament referee, with Pankaj Saini taking on the dual roles of match controller and chief controller for the championship. The press conference to announce the event was attended by several dignitaries, including retired chief justice NK Jain, SN Dixit, principal income tax director (investigation) Awadhesh Kumar, and JDBA officials Atul Gupta, Rajeev Nagori, Alka Batra, and Ritu Lohiya. The family of the late O N Dixit was represented by his son, Pankaj Dixit.
During the conference, SN Dixit shared a brief biography of O N Dixit, remembering him as a keen sportsman and a constant supporter of players. He highlighted that Dixit was not only a patron but also an accomplished player in both badminton and tennis. His son-in-law, Awadhesh Kumar, and son, Pankaj Dixit, mentioned that this edition marks the third consecutive year of the memorial tournament, cementing its place in Jaipur's sporting tradition.
A Gathering of Sporting Enthusiasts
The announcement saw a strong show of support from the local badminton fraternity. Alongside the key officials, the event was attended by vice-presidents Alka Batra and Ritu Lohiya, and a panel of referees including Jagdish Khatri, Vikas Mathur, Vijay Singh, Vikas Jain, Parag Lashkari, Sanjay Bhargava, Virendra Bhargava, Hemendra Sharma, Rambal Rathore, Rajendra Patti, and Gaurav Jain. Their presence underscores the community's commitment to organizing a smooth and professionally run championship.
With its blend of youth and veteran competition, the Shri O N Dixit Memorial Championship is poised to be a significant event, fostering local talent and honouring the legacy of a man who dedicated himself to the sport. All eyes will now be on the SMS Stadium courts from December 23 as Jaipur's shuttlers battle for district honours.
