KUWAIT: Defending IBAK Kuwait Badminton League (KBL) champions, Team 5.30, a team owned by a set of badminton enthusiasts, won their maiden Kuwait Badminton Challenge (KBC) trophy in a recently concluded, prestigious, international badminton tournament. The annual tournament, conducted by Indian Badminton Association – Kuwait (IBAK) under the leadership of its chairman, Dr Manimaran Chozhan, set the courts on fire in terms of high quality badminton for three days, from Sept 27 to Sept 29, 2023.

Top class players from different countries like India, Malaysia, Kuwait and the Middle East region, participated in this badminton extravaganza. Six top class teams were put in two groups, with top two qualifying for the semi finals. Team 5.30, after reaching the semi finals, defeated ex-champions, All Stars comprehensively by a margin of 3-0. In the finals, which was fought with high intensity, Team 5.30 defeated Challengers 3-1 to win the KBC.

This was Team 5.30’s second shot at KBC after reaching semi finals in 2019. Team was led by five times national doubles champion, Markose Bristow who was ably supported by leading doubles player Jaison Xavier. Other players included exciting national level players from India, Maneesha Kukkapalli, Nithin H V, Akshan Shetty and Bhargav S.

Top level players from Malaysia, Goh Kang Zuang and Nur Akmal Rumsani, Noufal K V from Qatar and Amritha Anai Kumar from Kuwait completed the line-up. The tournament was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Dr Adarsh Swaika. The event witnessed some high octane badminton displayed by more than 40 international badminton players from across the world.