The Indian Badminton Association of Kuwait (IBAK) proudly hosted the IBAK SLAM 2024, marking a historic moment as the first-ever Masters Badminton Tournament under the Seniors category. This prestigious event saw immense enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and top-notch performances from seasoned players. The highly anticipated event, which featured six competitive teams (Team India, Team Malaysia, Team Canada, IBAK All Stars, IBAK Torpedoes, Smashing Stars) from across the globe, took place at IBAK Salwa Gym, bringing together badminton enthusiasts and seasoned athletes for an exciting display of skill and sportsmanship

Chief Guest of the tournament was Mr. Praveen Singh, Director (Financial Services Group) at Al Mulla Group. In his welcome speech, He added “It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to stand before such a vibrant and talent gathering of badminton players. I wish each participant the very best and hope this event is not just about victories but also about unforgettable experiences and enduring friendships”.

The tournament was officially declared open on 21st Nov 2024 by Special Guest Ms.Aishah A R Al Otaibi, CEO of Aspire Kuwait, who praised the initiative for its significant role in promoting senior athletes and fostering the spirit of community building through sports. In her opening speech, Aishah emphasized the importance of inclusivity in sports, encouraging people of all ages to engage in physical activity and enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

All the players showcased their skill and determination during the tournament and it witnessed an exhilarating series of matches with teams showcasing outstanding performance. After 3 days of full intense competition, the “IBAK ALL STARS” emerged as the champions of the team event in the tournament, securing victory with remarkable teamwork and strategy. Their triumph not only earned them the prestigious title but also highlighted the level of expertise and dedication of senior athletes in Kuwait.

Badminton players from various countries like India, Canada, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Czech Republic, China, Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Egypt, Russia, Pakistan and Kuwait participated in the tournament. Event was held 2 categories; Team & Open. Open event categories were as follows. Mix Doubles +40, Women Doubles +40, Mens Doubles +40, Women Singles +40, Mens Singles +40, Mens Doubles +45, Mens Doubles +50, Mens Singles +50.

IBAK SLAM 2024 celebrated not just athletic excellence but also camaraderie and the growing badminton community in Kuwait. It was a proud moment for both participants and organizers, as this milestone event demonstrated the IBAK’s commitment to fostering the sport of Badminton among senior players.

IBAK Chairman, Dr. Manimara Chozhan expressed his gratitude, saying, "This is a milestone for IBAK and badminton enthusiasts in Kuwait. We thank Aspire Systems, Al Mulla group, Kout Food Group, Marafie Engineering Group Company WLL and supporters who made this event a grand success."

In line with its vision to promote and develop badminton in Kuwait, IBAK will conduct its 11th Inter-school Badminton Tournament on 5th & 6th December,2024

IBAK can be reached on www.ibakwt.org or [email protected]

Following are the results of various open categories.

Event Position Name

Mix Doubles +40

1 Prabagaran Subbaiyan+Jayashree Raghu

2 Jabbar Farooqui+Irawati Dwi Nofita

3 Tamil Muthu+Vidhya Jayapal

Women Doubles +40

1 Ainur Jubail D+Gigi Emperialde

2 Cheryl Magsayo Manaytay+Jeanette Tantiangco

3 Shaina Ajayakumar+Vidhya Jayapal

Mens Doubles +50

1 Maheswaran K+Dr. Tamer Raafat

2 Rizqi Budi Raharjo+Manimara Chozhan Regunathan

3 Ramesh Chandra Tarikere Nagaraj+Gnanasambantham Thirunavukkarasu

Mens Doubles +45

1 Jafree Bin Ramly+Tiean How Tan

2 Shiroj Joseph+Ramesh Chandra Tarikere Nagaraj

3 Dileep Karunakaran+Rakesh Nair

Mens Doubles +40

1 Maheswaran K+Subin Varghese

2 Hisham Ezzi+Pratap Kumar M

3 Sherwin Medina Felizardo+Santhosh R

Women Singles +40

1 Jayashree Raghu

2 Rio Calicdan Ferrer

3 Fazeela Abdul Khader

Mens Singles +50

1 Dr. Tamer Raafat

2 Manimara Chozhan Regunathan

3 Prabagaran Subbaiyan

Mens Singles +40

1 Hisham Ezzi

2 Vincent dela cruz Reyes

3 Srinivas G Reddy