5 September 24: In a dazzling showcase of badminton talent, over 600 gifted young players from every corner of Lucknow took center stage at the 8th edition of the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship 2024. This eagerly anticipated sporting spectacle culminated today in a thrilling finale at the prestigious KD Singh Babu Stadium where 9 budding badminton champions emerged victorious in their respective categories.

The audience witnessed exceptional games across various age groups. In the Boys Singles Under 9 category, Onish Khandelwal triumphed over Aryaveer Singh with a score of 15-11 & 15-11 while in the Girls Singles Under 9, Kimaya Singh defeated Spriha Rao Gautam with a score of 15-10 & 15-8.

In the Boys Singles Under 11 category, Sumay Tripathi emerged victorious against Akshat Shukla with a score of 15-8 & 15-11, and in the Girls Singles Under 11 category, Lavya Anika Patel defeating Saanvi Kumar with a score of 15-12 & 15-11.

The Boys Singles Under 13 category saw Shardool Khatri emerge victorious. In the Girls Singles Under 13 category, Garvita Tripathi secured a commanding win against Shreya Santosh with a score of 15-3 & 15-8, establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with.

In the Boys Singles Under 15 category, Shubham Solanki overcame Devendra Singh Thakur with a score of 15-13 & 15-11 in a competitive match. Meanwhile, Kuhu emerged victorious in the Girls Singles Under 15 category with a strong performance against Mansha rai with a score of 15-9 & 15-9.

The Boys Singles Under 17 category featured Abhinav Panghal who claimed victory over Husain Ansari with a score of 10-15, 15-9 & 15-9 while Kuhu in the Girls Singles Under 17 category beat Priyanka Gautam with a score of 15-5 & 15-11.

The closing ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries including Ms. Priyanka Mishra, Chief Insurance Manager, Mr. Sourabh Lohtia, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Dr. Yogesh Shetty, Head Physio of Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association and member Association of Physiotherapist, Shri. Mrityunjay Kumar, Zonal Manager, Punjab National Bank & Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh, Premiere Insurance Manager. They presented the victorious young athletes with the prestigious JBC Trophy, acknowledging their remarkable achievements.

Mr. Sameer Bansal, MD and CEO at PNB MetLife, enthused, "What an action-packed start to the games. Sports has true power to change lives, not least in helping children build confidence and develop mentally and physically. That's what drives our commitment to the PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship, and on behalf of PNB MetLife, I congratulate the winners and all the players for their enthusiasm and dedication to excellence in badminton.”

The PNB MetLife Junior Badminton Championship has earned the prestigious distinction of being recognized as the world's largest junior badminton tournament by the World Record Certification Agency (WRCA) for two consecutive years. This remarkable achievement underscores the championship's pivotal role in promoting junior badminton excellence in India.

This world record is a testament to the championship's consistent growth, exceptional organization, and the immense participation it attracts from young badminton enthusiasts across the country.

The event has garnered support from prominent figures in Indian badminton, including Satwik Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Prakash Padukone, Ashwini Ponnappa, Vimal Kumar, and Chetan Anand. These icons lend their expertise to the JBC Boot Camp, an innovative online badminton academy that provides invaluable insights and techniques to help young players refine their skills.

The next phase of this year's championship is set to take place in Ahmedabad & Ranchi starting from 7th Sept 24. We invite everyone to join us at Blackk and One Sports Foundation & Khel Gaon Sports Complex respectively, as we continue to witness the rise of India's future badminton legends.

JBC 2024 Registration Details:

The registration process for JBC 2024 can be completed by calling +91 9820006190.

The complete tournament schedule:

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 150 branches and access to customers in over 18,600 locations (as of March 31, 2024) 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 FB & IG: https://www.instagram.com/pnb_metlife, www.facebook.com/PNBMetLife, or visit https://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. Website: https://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.

For more information, please contact:

Priya Saini, +91 8447441404, Priya.saini@veritasreputation.com