PNB MetLife, one of India’s leading life insurance companies, has announce the much-awaited 7th edition of the Junior Badminton Championship (JBC), a premier junior badminton tournament dedicated to nurturing young talent and cultivating a new generation of champions in the sport.
The championship has become a competitive platform that hones the skills of junior badminton players and its inception in 2015, the league has successfully conducted six editions, with the impressive participation of over 40,000 aspiring players in more than 30,000 action-packed matches.
This year, the championship will span 10 cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Kochi, Jalandhar, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Ranchi, and Lucknow. All badminton players and aspirants in these 10 cities between the ages of seven and 17 are eligible to compete in PNB MetLife JBC 2023. The different categories include Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, and Under 17. The match format will be singles and each participant can play in a maximum of two categories, as long as the maximum age limit is upheld. The State Winners will be invited to New Delhi for the grand finale and awards ceremony.
Commenting on it, Ashish Srivastava, MD & CEO of PNB MetLife, expressed his excitement for the upcoming championship and said: “Over the course of six extraordinary editions, the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship has brought together top young sporting talent from across the country, seamlessly crossing geographical borders and cultures. More than just a sports tournament, JBC is an arena for personal transformation – nurturing aspirations for the future, instilling sportsmanship, and sculpting the potential champions of tomorrow. JBC embodies the true essence of sports as a unifying force.”
JBC is globally recognized as the world’s largest junior badminton tournament played across multiple venues, a remarkable achievement acknowledged by the esteemed World Record Certification Agency (WRCA).
Top players and coaches in India including PV Sindhu, Prakash Padukone, Ashwini Poannapa, Vimal Kumar and Chetan Anand support this initiative through the JBC Boot Camp. The JBC Boot Camp is an innovative online badminton academy that offers valuable insights and techniques, enabling young players to refine their skills and reach their full potential.
The grand launch event of the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship 2023 is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad on September 15. This event will mark the commencement of an exciting journey across the 10 states, where talented young players will compete for glory on the badminton court.