Points to prove and pick at home for shuttlers

In the women's section, India's highest seed is Neha Pandit at 2 and plays a qualifier in the opening round, while the hard-working Arundhati Pantwane would like to make good her hours of training when taking on Taipei youngster Ying Chun Lin. It's an important season for former national champion Sayali Gokhale who takes on qualifier Chien Hui Yu. An exciting local prospect is Mumbai girl Tanvi Lad, seeded third, who plays Wan Yi Tang of Taipei and former Tata Open Champion, PC Thulasi will try to bring to life her singles career. Simone Prutsch of Austria (World ranked No.71) is the top seed.

In Men's Doubles, the star attraction will be one of the best doubles/mixed players in the World Badminton Lee Yong Dae of Korea (London Olympics Bronze Medalist). Also in the fray are Malaysians Nelson Wei Keat Heg and Ee Yi Teo, seeded at No.4. There are also young Indonesians, Chinese Taipei, Korean combinations along with two Indian pairs Arun Vishnu/Tarun Kona and Pranav Chopra/Akshay Dewalkar, who will make a bid for the title.

The tournament carries prize money of US$ 15,000. The Tata Open India International Challenge is part of the international circuit badminton tournaments that earns ranking points for players. The qualifying rounds of the tournament will be held on December 12, 2012 and the main draw will commence from December 13, 2012, with finals taking place on December 16, 2012. Mr. Oliver Guruge of Sri Lanka will be the referee of this tournament.

The Cricket Club of India, Mumbai hosts the tournament at their world-class air-conditioned courts. Yonex shuttlecocks would be used for the tournament.

From Niluka land

Sri Lankan Oliver Guruge is in town as the chief referee of the Tata Open badminton, but the Sri Lankan is responsible for a precious solitary career back home in the island nation. As unofficial manager of Niluka Karunaratne, the Sri Lankan who managed to brighten up the country's otherwise dull Olympics, Guruge says the country's ace shuttler has given them a ray of hope beyond their staples of cricket, rugby and athletics.

... contd.

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