Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Goa is set to host the Yonex-Sunrise G.H. Raisoni Memorial All India Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament 2026 from October 23 to 30 at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium in Navelim. The eight day national ranking competition will bring together nearly 1,000 players from more than 26 States and Union Territories, with a total prize purse of ₹8 lakh.
Organised by the Goa Badminton Association (GBA) in association with the North Goa District Badminton Association, the tournament will be conducted under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India and the Sports Authority of Goa. The event is powered by the G.H. Raisoni Sports and Cultural Foundation, Nagpur, with an estimated overall budget of ₹40 lakh.
The competition will feature five Under-19 categories: Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles, Boys’ Doubles, Girls’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Several leading junior players from across the country are expected to compete for ranking points and honours.
The top seeds include Bornil Akash and Hardik Divyansh in Boys’ Singles, Diksha S. R. and Nakshatraa Jairaj in Girls’ Singles, Divyansh Agrawal and Varna Prabhuanand in Mixed Doubles, Abhishek Bonu and Aanayan Borah in Boys’ Doubles, and Lakshmi Devineni and Anjana Manikandan in Girls’ Doubles.
Goa will be represented by several promising junior shuttlers, including Aarush Pawaskar, Advait Balakrishnan, Shaheen C. K., Aswin M., Ritika Chelluri, Sufiya Shaikh, Shivanjali Thite and Dimple Revankar. Competing against the country’s leading players on home courts will provide the Goan contingent with valuable experience and exposure.
The organising team is led by GBA president Manoj Patil, secretary Praveen Shenoy, treasurer Sanjay Bhobe, organising secretary Wayne Fernandes, tournament director Sandeep Heble and joint organising secretary Vinayak Kamat.
Technical officials include referee Parijat Natu of Maharashtra, deputy referee V. Sankar of Puducherry and match controller Sachin Bharati of Maharashtra, supported by more than 60 personnel handling technical responsibilities.
Patil highlighted Goa’s sports infrastructure and scenic appeal as key advantages in hosting national competitions. He also acknowledged the support of the state government, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Sports Authority of Goa executive director Dr. Ajay Gaude and sponsors.
Shenoy said the tournament would give Goa’s junior players an important opportunity to test themselves against top ranked opponents, build confidence and gain experience at the national level.
