Sri Lanka is set to host the largest-ever Badminton World Federation (BWF) event with 667 shuttlers expected to vie for glory at the HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025, to be held from 25 February to 2 March at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo.
The organisers, Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), stated that it has received a record number of entries from 28 countries, including Sri Lanka. The six-day competition is expected to showpiece the country’s capability in hosting an event of high interest and magnitude, SLB stated, issuing a press statement in this regard.
India, who dominated the last season’s LiNing Sri Lanka International Challenge 2024 with three gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals, have hinted their intent of retaining their dominance, or even bettering, with the largest number of entries out of the 28 countries.
They will field 227 shuttlers, surely with the aim of claiming more medals than they won last season when the event was held at the Dadella International Indoor Complex in Galle.
Enjoying the privilege as hosts, Sri Lanka will be the next biggest force in numbers with 108 shuttlers entering the fray, while Malaysia have entered 82 of their shuttlers for the BWF and Badminton Asia sanctioned tournament.
Chinese Taipei comes in at fourth with a force of 52 shuttlers joining the action, followed by Thailand, who will enter 44.
Asian powerhouse, Indonesia, will send 38 of their shuttlers with Japan expected to be represented by 19 athletes.
The Philippines and Vietnam will field 13 shuttlers each, while Australia, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have confirmed nine players each.
South Korea and the United States (USA) will send eight shuttlers as Maldives (6) and Canada (5) will see their rising international stars join the action.
Myanmar and Zambia have confirmed that three each of their shuttlers will join forces, followed by England, who will field two.
Cyprus, Denmark, Iran, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, and Turkey will be represented by a shuttler each.
Among the five events competed, the Men’s Singles have the most number of competitors in fray with 244 shuttlers set to vie for the plum.
The Women’s Singles will see 136 competing for the ultimate crown, while the Men’s Doubles have attracted 84 entries.
The Women’s Doubles have 74 entries listed in fray while the Mixed Doubles have 75 entries to complete the six-day competition that offers a total prize money of $ 17,500.
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