The Mercantile Open Badminton Championships, a hallmark event in Sri Lanka’s sports calendar, is set to commence on March 16 and will run until March 23.

The Level 1 tournament, a collaborative effort between the Sri Lanka Badminton and the Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA), is slated to take place at two venues: the MBA Courts and the Lumbini College Indoor Badminton Courts.

Recognized as a crucial ranking event, the championship is distinguished by its inclusive competitive categories – Open, Senior, Junior, and Veterans – catering to a wide range of age groups from under 11 to over 70. Competitors will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches, with a special consolation category dedicated to those narrowly missing out on the final qualifying rounds.

The event boasts a generous prize pool of one million rupees, underscoring the significant reward for excellence in this competitive sport. In addition to the cash prizes, the podium winners will be honoured with trophies, medals, and certificates.

The championship is supported by an impressive line-up of sponsors, including McFoil, Mobil, Li Ning, 3M, and GAC, highlighting the wide support for this annual event.