Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Int'l Challenge inaugurated

Dhaka, Dec 7- Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh Int'l Challenge formally inaugurated Wednesday at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Indoor Stadium adjoining the Bangabandhu National Stadium in the city, said a Bangladesh Badminton Federation (BBF) press release today.

Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, MP, was present as the chief guest in the opening ceremony while Youth and Sports Secretary Mesbah Uddin was present there as the special guest.

BBF's president, Information Commissioner and Senior Secretary Dr Abdul Malek presided over the opening ceremony.

Prize money of U$$ 20,000 (twenty thousand) will be given in senior and junior category of the tournament.

Under the supervision of Badminton World Federation and Badminton Asia, the five-day meet is organized by BBF.

A total of 251 -- 143 of men's and 108 of women's -- players from seventeen countries across the globe are taking part in the Int'l tournament.

Apart from host Bangladesh, sixteen more countries - India, Thailand, Turkey, Myanmar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Canada, Mongolia, Indonesia, Bahrain, Japan, the Maldives, Iran, Germany, Philippine, Sri Lanka and Malaysia - are participating in the tournament.