KUWAIT CITY, Jan 29 :Indian Badminton Associat-ion of Kuwait, the country’s largest and most organized badminton organization with a membership which has swelled to nearly 700 in less than two years, resumes its activities this week. The organization, which is led by its chairman Dr Manimara Chozhan, has grown so fast since its establishment and organized so many tournaments and other events, that it has left all the other clubs standing in it’s wake. IBAK starts this week with the first Inter-Club tournament, with the opening ceremony on Feb 3. The tournament will run for three or four successive Fridays and around 10 clubs are expected to take part in the event.

Such a tournament is taking place for the first time in Kuwait. IBAK was also the first to hold an inter-school tournament and is the only organization to hold regular coaching camps for its members. Foreign coaches impart training at these camps. Before we discuss the rules for the coming tournament, we must mention that an IBAK team just returned from taking part in its first overseas tournament – in the Maldives – which was hosted by the Dhanvaru Friendly Veteran’s Badminton Club under the patronage of the Badminton Federation of Maldives.

The tournament saw the IBAK squad compete against the top three teams from the Maldivian National League. The tournament was held over three days and the format involved 4 doubles, 2 singles and one tie-breaker doubles. On the first day, the IBAK team struggled to match their rivals in the extremely humid conditions with matches being played at the Badminton Federation of Maldives. The IBAK team faced another disadvantage as it had practiced with feathered shuttles and it was slightly difficult getting used to real feather shuttles and different climatic conditions plus the turf courts. The Dhanvaru team, champions of the Maldivian league, was a well-oiled machine and it was not long before it steamrolled the IBAK team in all the 5 matches with Suresh and Faheem saving IBAK from further blushes by taking the doubles. The score line 5-1.

The next day saw the IBAK squad fight back and whitewash Male Eagles, the third-placed team of the league, 6-0. The scoreline is not indicative of the strength of the opposition as the Eagles fought hard. It was just that they had been unawares of the resilience of the IBAK squad. The fact that all the matches were three-set affairs proves how closely the matches were fought.
The day also saw the real match the tournament – between the runners-up of the Maldivian league, United Sports Club and the now-settled IBAK team.
IBAK went two up with two doubles victories while the United team soon tied them by winning one single and one doubles. IBAK pulled ahead again when Suresh won his singles but the scores were again tied when United won the fourth doubles.

The tie-breaker doubles match was won in straight sets by the United team despite a tough fight put up by the thoroughly exhausted IBAK team.
The IBAK team believes the tour was an enriching experience and new friendships were formed during the tour. The return leg of the tour is scheduled to take place in this year when the Maldivian clubs visit Kuwait. IBAK offers its thanks to Wataniya Telecom, sponsor of the IBAK team, for their support.
The IBAK team to the Maldives included: Dr Manimara Chozhan, Faheem Contractor, Suresh Ramachandran, Mallu Chandramouli, Noor Kalmatta, Vivek Nair, Mohan Menon, Shyamsundar.
Rules for coming event
Organisers say the 1st IBAK inter-club tournament will employ the following rules and will be guided by the tournament committee. All objections will be entertained by the tournament committee and the arbitration of the committee will be final.

Tournament Directors: Baburaj Parakkal & Ajay Kumar Vasudevan
Format
n Each club can be represented by one or more teams.
n Each team must have a minimum of 6 players and an option of up to 8 players.
n Each team will play 3 doubles ( different individuals ), two singles and one mixed doubles.
n In the case of not having a female player, the 4th doubles shall be an optional mix of different players or from the previous pairs; but not the same pair that has already played.
n Each straight-set win will carry 3 points while a two-set victory will entitle the winners to 2 points while the losers will get 1 point.
n The matches will be played on a round-robin format; single or double, based on the number of participating teams.
n All the players will have to be registered before hand; no players can be added after the start of the tournament.
n The top four teams ( in case of a single round-robin ) or top two from each pool ( in the case of a two-pool round-robin ) will play the semi-finals.
n The semi-finals and finals will be knock-out matches.
n All players should wear the team jersey as provided by the organizers during the matches and the photo-shoot.
n All teams to be present at 10.00 am on the tournament Fridays*
n A default will be declared if a team does not present itself or put up the required number of players for the matches with the defaulting team getting no points and the winners 2 points.
n The champions and runners-up will be entitled to a rolling trophy while there will be individual prizes for the team members.

* In the case where teams have sought permission in advance, the timings agreed to will be followed.
Game
n All games will employ the rally point system of scoring with the first to reach 21 points being declared the winners
n In the case of a ‘deuce’ at 20-20, the winner will be decided on a difference of two points
n In the case of a further tie, the first player/team to reach 23 points will be declared the winner.
n In the case of a tie in the league phase, head-on-head winners will be placed higher
n In the case of a three-way tie, the team with more three-set wins, will be placed higher than the others
n In the event of a further tie, the team with maximum set points will be placed higher than the rest
n All standard rules of badminton will be employed including foot faults**,

incorrect service***,

ball-tampering**** fouls and the chair umpire’s decision will remain final, in matters of contention

** Both feet should maintain contact with the ground at the time of the service and the receiver cannot make an advance motion before server delivers the ball.

*** The racquet head should face downwards and be generally at a level below an imaginary line of the server’s waist and the service should be delivered in one smooth action.

**** Intentional disfigurement of the shuttle with either the hand or racquet or any other means will be considered as ball tampering and point will be scored for the opponent.