Sonia Bashir Kabir (2nd -R), the chief executive officer of Dell Computers, speaks at a press conference while Rubaba Daula, the president of Bangladesh Badminton Federation, and Farhan Quddus, the chief executive of the event management company Excalibur Entertainment, look on at a city hotel on Wednesday. — New Age photo

The 1st Ispahani Corporate Badminton Grand Slam 2013, a competition participated by teams from the country’s renowned corporate houses, will begin at the Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Wooden Floor Gymnasium at Paltan today.
More than one hundred shuttlers from 19 corporate houses are participating in the competition, which is the first badminton meet in the country involving the corporate houses.
Farhan Quddus, the chief executive of the event management company Excalibur Entertainment, however, said that they will be organising this competition every year from now on – just like they have been organising a corporate football tournament annually.
‘You know we are quite successful in organising a football tournament and now we started the badminton competition,’ Farhan said.
‘We do not have as many participants as football this time since it is the first time. I am sure the number will gradually increase in the forthcoming editions,’ he added.
New Age is the media partner of this newly-introduced sporting event for corporate houses, while Dell Computers, Pepsi, Channel i, Radio Foorti and Monowara Hospital are the other partners – apart from the title sponsors Ispahani Group.
The Bangladesh Badminton Federation will help the organisers by providing judges and some other logistic supports.
The competition is divided into five different sections –men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles – while the highest medal-winning house will be declared champions at the end.
The three-day long knockout-basis competition will be inaugurated by information minister Hasanul Huq Inu.
The draw for the competition was held at a city hotel on Wednesday where, among others, Rubaba Daula, president of the BBF, and Farhan Quddus were present.