The Expatriate Badminton Association of Saudi Arabia (EBASA) and Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu put on an impressive one day show bringing in more than 300 players from seven nationalities here at Al-Huwaylat Sports Complex recently. The games started at 8.30 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m. The players from Jeddah, Riyadh, Makkah, Al-Baha, Al-Hassa and Eastern Province competed in 8 flights – from beginners to professionals for men and 3 fFlights for juniors including a singles flight. Players from India, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada, USA and Pakistan took part in the one-day event. For the first time in the history of open badminton tournament in Saudi Arabia, Saudi national players comprising coach Ammar Awad and 18 boys took part in various events. Dr. Yousef Al-Thobaithi, secretary general of Saudi Badminton Committee, had given the permission the Saudi team to take part in this tournament. Abdul Aziz Al-Saqhan, secretary of Saudi Badminton Committee, along with team manager Abdul Rehman and other SBC members were present throughout the tournament to watch the performance of Saudi boys and encourage them. Tournament organizing committee chairman Rashed Al-Qahtani and Yacub Al-Dossary were instrumental in conducting this tournament and making it a big success. Khalid Al-Shamri (manager, Al-Huwaylat Club Social Services), Rashed Al-Qahtani (head of sports activities), Ahmed Bin Khalifa Bin Issa Al-Buainain (general manager of BISCO), Zubair Muneer (director, industrial services division, Tamimi), Francis Sebastian (general manager, Khonaini Perfumes), Roy (finance manager, Khonaini group of companies) were the dignitaries who graced the final session. In the men's premier flight, Shihab Mohammed and Thomas Kavalam won the coveted trophy beating Saneesh Joy and Khaja Ahmed who put up a good fight. In the Saudi singles, Hassan Batayah beat Abdul Rauf Hussain. EBASA President George PuthenMadhom thanked the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu for their support in conducting this massive tournament which saw 176 games in one day at 7 courts. He also extended his gratitude to sponsor BISCO and Venus Sebastian. The EBASA executive council members, K.I. Ansari, Babu Varghese, Arif Shamsudeen, Sameer Baikadi, N. Lakshmaiah, Cherian George and Sabeer Shamsudeen, were in the forefront in conducting the tournament. The committee appreciated the support from Nikky Babu and Kiran Sajan Babu. Trophies were awarded by Royal Commission officials. Rashed Al-Qahtani congratulated all the winners and runners-up and appreciated EBASA and Royal Commission in staging the tournament.
