The National Badminton Championships 2024 kicked off today at the Karnataka Badminton Association, promising a week of high-intensity action featuring India’s finest badminton players. The tournament, scheduled from December 18 to 24, began with inter-zonal team competitions and will transition to individual events starting Friday.
Among the headline participants is Paris 2024 Olympian Tanisha Crasto, who will compete alongside rising stars Anmol Kharb, Malvika Bansod, and Unnati Hooda. Crasto, paired with Dhruv Kapila, will aim to defend their mixed doubles title, while other doubles categories also promise exciting clashes.
The women’s singles category will feature fierce competition, with the 17-year-old Anmol Kharb seeking to retain her title. Kharb has enjoyed a stellar year, highlighted by her contribution to India’s historic gold medal win at the Badminton Asia Team Championships.
However, she will face strong challenges from experienced campaigners like Malvika Bansod, the top-ranked women’s singles player in the tournament at world No. 32, and Aakarshi Kashyap.
Bansod, who leads the women’s singles draw, will look to secure her first national title, while the 17-year-old Unnati Hooda, last year’s finalist Tanvi Sharma, and upcoming talent Rakshitha Sree are expected to be in contention as well. Saina Nehwal remains the last player to achieve back-to-back national titles in women’s singles, a feat she accomplished in 2017 and 2018.
In the men’s singles, defending champion Chirag Sen is set to battle it out with a competitive field, including world No. 34 Priyanshu Rajawat, Kiran George, and last year’s runner-up M Tharun.
Rajawat, the highest-ranked men’s player in the tournament, has been in impressive form and is seen as a strong contender for the title. Chetan Anand remains the last player to successfully defend the men’s singles title, achieving the feat in 2007.
The doubles events also promise thrilling matches, with K Pruthvi Roy and Suraj Goala aiming to defend their men’s doubles title, while Priya Devi Konjengbam and Shruti Mishra will look to retain their women’s doubles crown.
The championship not only provides a platform for emerging talent but also serves as a key test for India’s top shuttlers ahead of major international tournaments. Fans can expect an exciting finale when the tournament concludes on December 24.
