Over 650 shuttlers are expected to vie for glory at HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025, the largest ever Badminton World Federation (WBF) event that will be held in Sri Lanka from February 25 to March 2.
The venue will be the famous Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo where several leading indoor games have been held.
The record number of entries have been received from 28 countries and Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) will be proud to host this mega event. The six-day competition offers a total prize money of US $17,500.
India are expected to send in the largest contingent of 227 shuttlers having hinted their interest in dominating the game.
It was they who dominated last season’s LiNing Sri Lanka International Challenge winning three gold, three silver and four bronze medals are hinted in their interest to dominate this time too.
As hosts Sri Lanka will have the privilege of fielding the next biggest force with 108 players, while Malaysia have entered 82 shuttlers are also encouraged by their ability to win medals.
Chinese Taipei is another Asian nation with top shuttlers will field 52 players followed by Thailand with 44 entries.
Indonesia will send only 38 players while Japan are expected to send in 19 players.
The Philippines and Vietnam will field 13 shuttlers each while Australia, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have confirmed nine players each.
Surprisingly South Korea will send only 8 players along with the United States (USA) while the Maldives (6) and Canada (5) will see their rising international stars join the action.
Myanmar and Zambia have confirmed three each of their shuttler will join forces, followed by England, who will field two.
Cyprus, Denmark, Iran, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey will be represented by one shuttler each.
Among the five events the Men’s singles have the highest number of competitors in the fray with 244 shuttlers set to vie for the plum.
The Women’s singles will see 136 competing for the ultimate crown while the Men’s doubles have attracted 84 entries. The Women’s doubles have 74 entries listed Mixed doubles have 75 entries.
The HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025 is sponsored by HUNDRED, LiNing, Mobil, McFoil and 3M.
(TB Rahaman – Sunday Observer)
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