Largest badminton open-platform to identify and train –aspiring shuttlers

•    Over  the last three seasons  the tournament hosted over 8000 children who participated in 8 cities
•    10 cities to host regional matches for season 4: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Lucknow,  Guwahati, Kolkata and Kochi
•    Matches to be held under four age categories: Under-9, 11, 13 and 15  for both boys and girls
•    The platform supports underprivileged kids to excel in the sport and 140 children have benefitted from these scholarships over the years
•    The tournament is approved by the Badminton Association of India (BAI)
•    Registrations and more details on https://www.healthforhappiness.in/

Kochi, June 30, 2018: PNB MetLife India, one of India’s leading life insurance company, kick-started the fourth season of the biggest National open-platform for Badminton at grassroots level today at Riz Badminton Academy, Kochi. The first day of the three-day tournament in the city saw more than 450 young future prodigies engaging in on-court battles. The fourth season of the tournament promises more thrilling and high voltage badminton action.

The tournament was inaugurated by Chief Guest – George Thomas, Ex-international Badminton Player, National men’s Champion who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest for the opening ceremony.

The new addition to the tournament Kochi received overwhelming response with more than 450 entries. JBC 4 will cover the length and breadth of the country with tournaments in 10 cities - Chandigarh, Bangalore, Kochi, Lucknow, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati and New Delhi. The matches will be played in four age categories – Under-9, 11, 13 and 15 for boys and girls. Top two kids from each category from every city tournament will proceed to the National Finale in New Delhi and get a chance to claim the National title. 

The platform is being sponsored by PNB MetLife, with CRY Foundation as the CSR partner. The aim of this initiative is to revive the spirit of the sport by nurturing the right talent at an amateur level, thereby fostering their growth and ability to perform on a global scale.

Mr. Nipun Kaushal, Chief Marketing Officer, PNB MetLife said “Over the years JBC 4 has become a much awaited event and it is heartening to see the response to the tournament in different cities. We have used an integrated communication approach to promote this Olympic sport so that more children can benefit from playing it.  We expect to have a total of 8000 children participate in this year’s edition. We are committed to provide more children access to this platform. The passion and commitment that we saw today is testament that tomorrow, as national players, these children will cross new boundaries in the sport of Badminton.”

The Chief Guest for the event, Mr. George Thomas, said, “India is doing well in Badminton and the sport is growing. With platforms like this more young children can have access to the game. We applaud PNB MetLife’s efforts to support the Olympic sport of badminton and provide a platform for all children to achieve their sporting ambitions.” 

The national-level tournament, approved by Badminton Association of India (BAI), has in the past four years grown from strength-to-strength becoming one of the biggest annual national level platforms for young badminton enthusiasts. Speaking on the occasion, BAI President – Mr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, said, “We are delighted to associate with PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship (JBC) 4. Through this initiative young children can now hone their skills and chase their badminton dreams. India has the potential to produce many budding sports stars. Platforms like these take the sport to different parts of the country and make it accessible to all.”

JBC 4 is set to get under way in Pune. The tournament would shift back to Delhi-NCR for the National Finale in August 2018.

The complete tournament schedule:

For more information and registration one can visit https://www.healthforhappiness.in/

About PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited

PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) is a joint venture between MetLife International Holdings Inc. (MIHI), Punjab National Bank Limited (PNB), Jammu & Kashmir Bank Limited (JKB), M. Pallonji and Company Private Limited and other private investors, with MIHI and PNB being the majority shareholders. IRDAI Registration No. 117

For more information, visit PNB MetLife