National, December 19, 2023: PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship (JBC) has concluded its 7^th edition with unprecedented success, achieving a spectacular World Record recognized by the World Record Certification Agency (WRCA). The 7^th edition secured the prestigious title of the ‘Most kids participating in a Badminton Championship in multiple cities,’ surpassing its own record set in 2022.

Launched in 2015, PNB MetLife JBC has evolved into one of the nation's largest annual open platforms for young badminton enthusiasts, engaging over 41,000 participants in more than 28,000 matches over the past 7 editions. The success of PNB MetLife JBC is attributed to well-planned and executed marketing efforts, contributing to the growing anticipation around the event each year.

Record-Breaking Journey: From its humble beginnings in 2015 across four cities, the championship has expanded exponentially, covering 10 cities in the latest 7^th edition. The anticipation builds annually as players and badminton enthusiasts eagerly await this iconic event, contributing to its growing popularity. The 7^th edition witnessed extraordinary participation of 8257 young champions, reflecting the championship's commitment to fostering badminton talent at the grassroots level.

Asian Games Gold Medallists as Mentors: The 2023 edition saw the inclusion of Asian Games Gold Medallists, Chirag Shetty & Satwik Rankireddy, who have recently been nominated for the Khel Ratna as PNB MetLife JBC mentors. Their invaluable guidance and expertise significantly contributed to the championship's success, inspiring young talents to aim for excellence and enhancing the event's prestige.

Beyond records and numbers, JBC remains a significant platform for aspiring young badminton players. Initiatives like the JBC Boot Camp, an online badminton academy offering tutorial videos by renowned coaches and badminton players, including U. Vimal Kumar, Vijay Lancy, Anup Sridhar, and JBC Mentors Satwik & Chirag covering topics such as badminton techniques, mental ability, fitness, and nutrition. These tutorial videos from badminton stalwarts, provide young athletes professional training across three levels – Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Another initiative introduced was the JBC Virtual Dugout. This initiative was launched during Covid-19 that gave young shuttlers an opportunity to directly connect with the top badminton players and experts from the safety of their homes and seek advice and tips on how to stay fit and practice their skills to come-back strong post lockdown. These experts also encouraged the young athletes to ‘Eat Right, Play Hard’ and offered advice on how to retain focus and mental strength.

Mr. Ashish K Srivastava, MD and CEO of PNB MetLife, expressed, “The PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship has evolved into a catalyst for talent development in badminton, nurturing emerging athletes into future stars. The extraordinary feat of securing the World Record for the highest number of participating kids in a badminton championship for two consecutive years underscores our commitment to shaping the future of badminton in India. As we look ahead to future editions, our focus remains on promoting sports and youth development on a broader scale, actively contributing to the growth and well-being of young athletes across the country."

Sourabh Lohtia, Head of Marketing for PNB MetLife added, “As we celebrate the success of the 7^th edition of JBC, our commitment to expanding its reach and impact in the future remains strong. The journey from a modest 300 registrations in 2015 to shattering the world record with 8255 participants in the 2023 edition illustrates the escalating interest from aspiring shuttlers, emphasizing the prominent standing PNB MetLife JBC has achieved. We are confident in the continued success of JBC and anticipate even larger participation from young shuttlers in future editions.”

Rewarding Excellence: In the 7^th season, Rs 30 Lakhs were awarded to the young champions across 10 cities, reflecting PNB MetLife's dedication towards creating a platform that is centred around identifying, nurturing, and supporting emerging talents in the Olympic sport of badminton, furthering the mission to safeguard and empower Indian aspirations at world stage.

Overview of PNB MetLife’s JBC Journey:

• 2015: Launched with 4 cities, witnessing over 3000 registrations.
• 2016: Expanded to 8 cities, with 5500 registrations.
• 2017: Reached 10 cities, with over 5800 registrations.
• 2018-2019: Continued growth, expanding to 10 cities and attracting over 8000 and 9500 registrations respectively.
• 2019: JBC Boot Camp launched, offering online training modules by renowned coaches and players.
• 2022: Expanded reach to 12 cities, attracting over 8000 registrations.
• 2023: Covered 10 cities, attracting 8257 participants.
• Overall: Since inception in 2015, PNB MetLife JBC has engaged over 49,000 participants, with over 34,000 matches played.

At PNB MetLife, we believe that physical fitness is as important as the fiscal fitness of individuals. We work not only to help our consumers realize their financial goals but also to attain a healthy way of living.

As PNB MetLife continues its journey to promote badminton excellence, the 7^th edition of JBC stands as a testament to the championship's evolution and its pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian badminton.

About PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited

PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife) is one of the leading life insurance companies in India that combines the financial strength of MetLife, Inc. with the credibility of PNB, one of the India's oldest nationalized banks. PNB MetLife’s purpose, Milkar Life Aage Badhaein, is demonstrated through its customer-centric innovations and employee empowerment practices.

With a strong presence in 139 branches and access to customers in over 18,600 locations (as on March 31, 2023) through bank partnerships, PNB MetLife offers a comprehensive product portfolio covering Child Education, Family Protection, Long-Term Saving and Retirement. The Company has a wide range of protection and retirement products available through its sales channel of over 19,500 financial advisors and multiple bank partners and caters to over 590+ group relationships in India.

For more information, follow us on Twitter @PNBMetLife1, www.facebook.com/PNBMetLife, or visit www.pnbmetlife.com.

The marks “PNB” and “MetLife” are the registered trademarks of Punjab National Bank and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, respectively. PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited is a licensed user of these marks. PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited, Registered office address: Unit No. 701, 702 & 703, 7th Floor, West Wing, Raheja Towers, 26/27 M G Road, Bangalore - 560001, Karnataka. IRDAI Registration number 117. CIN no. U66010KA2001PLC028883. Call us Toll-free at 1-800-425-6969. Phone: 080-66006969, Website: www.pnbmetlife.com, Email: indiaservice@pnbmetlife.co.in or Write to us: 1st Floor, Techniplex-1, Techniplex Complex, Opposite Veer Savarkar Flyover, Goregaon (West), Mumbai - 400062, Maharashtra. Phone: +91-22-41790000, Fax: +91-22-41790203.

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