June 2013 33 www.bahrainthismonth.com happeningssportsrecreation Beat the summer heat this month with a thrilling badminton tournament. The Bahrain Badminton and Squash Federation brings together the best players in the region. Twenty-four teams from across the GCC are set to go head-tohead for top honours. Each squad consists of seven men and one woman, where the groups will be divided into three levels depending on the standard of their game. Eight teams each will take part in the first, second and third levels. “All teams in each level will be divided into two pools of four, with each team playing each other. One game comprises five matches — one men’s singles, three men’s doubles and one mixed doubles. The top two winners from each pool will qualify for the semi-final,” explains organiser Ashley George of the Bahrain Badminton and Squash Federation (BBSF). The winning team in level one will be awarded a cash prize of BD1,000, while runners up will be awarded BD500. In levels two and three, the top team will be awarded BD250 and the runners up BD100. Apart from these rewards, all participants in the winning and runner-up teams will receive individual trophies. Watching over In a bid to promote the sport, this month will also see a badminton umpire course to be held alongside the championship. Sudhakar Vemuri will conduct the course to be held from June 23- 26. He is a Badminton World Federation (BWF) certificated umpire, Badminton Asia Confederation certificated referee and a member of the BWF Umpire Assessment panel. The participants of the course will undergo a practical test during the last three days of the championship, by officiating in the matches. “The umpires who pass the tests will be awarded the Bahrain National Umpire Certificate. Some of them may be invited to officiate in the Bahrain International Series and Bahrain International Challenge tournaments, which are scheduled to be held in October or November,” continues Ashley. The organiser explains that the primary aim of the tournament is to bring more players into the game. “The best players in the region are all expected to participate in this event and this will be a good opportunity to witness good quality badminton. We hope that many of the people who come to watch the games will take up the sport,” he says. BBSF was established in 1981 and has since then acted as a major driving force behind the growth of badminton and squash in the Kingdom. Among the GCC nations, a national badminton federation affiliated to the Badminton World Federation exists only in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. The country has over the years produced local Bahraini players who have excelled at the regional level. The Kingdom’s current national champion is Jaffer Ebrahim, one of the top players in the region. E Call 36 500-103. Shuttle Schemers When? June 18-29 | Event? The Bahrain Open Club Championship | Venue? Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam Join the Club When? Throughout June Event? Summer activities Venue? Royal Golf Club E Call 17 750-777. Don’t miss another exciting month of Royal Golf Club’s roundup of sporting events. First up is the TaylorMade Summer Open that will be held in a stable ford format on June 21. June 25 will bring out the island’s best golfers for the open-to-all VIVA Fourball League. To wind down your weekend, the Wee Monty Family Day will be held every Saturday for only BD15 per adult while kids play for free. Another weekly activity is the A&E Monday Madness Night Golf Series that will see a different format each week as well as the Ecco Monday Stableford both held every Monday.
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