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Enthusiasts of the shuttlecock game on the island are not likely to have forgotten the name Ali Shahhoseini, nor his face, writes Gopal Nambiar.
For it was only about a year ago that this Iranian powerhorse walked away with the men's singles title of the Bahrain Air Bahrain International Badminton Series at the Indian Club.
Shahhoseini will again be seen in action this year, along with last year's runner-up and compatriot Mohammed Reza Kheradmandi, when the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS) hosts the Bahrain International Challenge 2010 badminton tournament from November 30 to December 4.
"More than 125 top players and 32 officials from 30 countries, including 17 from Bahrain, will be seen in action in this Level 4A tournament sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC)," said organising committee convenor Ashley George.
"This is the fifth time Bahrain Badminton & Squash Federation (BBSF) is organising such an event, but the first time that it will be played on the new BKS courts," Ashley added.
The tournament carries a total prize money of $15,000 as well as world ranking points.
The number of participating countries in an international tournament in Bahrain is a new record. In 2007, players from 18 countries had turned up.
The Iranian squad includes women's doubles winners at the Indian Club event, Negin Amiripour and Sahar Zamanian, and eight other badminton stars.
The Indian contingent of 14 players - eight men and six women - includes some of the stars who took part in the recent Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where India finished second behind Australia in the medals table.
BAC has appointed India's Sudhakar Vemuri as the referee and Zahra Haghnejad of Iran as the deputy referee of the tournament.
The main sponsors of the event are Almarai, Mohammed Jalal & Sons and Chevron Bahrain and the co-sponsors are IPS Trade Middle East, Dubai Horizon, Ahmed Zayani & Sons, Alpha Fire and Berger Paints.
The tournament will start at 4pm on all days and continue up to 11pm on November 30, December 1 and 2. The opening ceremony will be at 8pm on the opening day. On Friday, December 3, the quarter-finals will be played in the morning session followed by the semi-finals in the evening. On the concluding day, December 4, the finals will start at 6pm, followed by the closing ceremony.
Entry to the event is free for all.
