Vijayawada: The South Zone Inter-University Men’s Badminton Tournament 2026 commenced at KL University on Saturday. The tournament, being held from January 3 to 6, was inaugurated by Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) chairman Animini Ravi Naidu.Speaking at the inaugural event, Ravi Naidu said the tournament would provide an opportunity for university-level players to compete for qualification to the national inter-university badminton championship. He said that 128 universities from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala are participating in the competition, with a total of 896 players representing their respective institutions. According to him, the tournament includes both senior and junior players, contributing to a competitive environment.He also outlined govt initiatives related to sports development, stating that 421 qualified sportspersons were provided employment through the Mega Sports DSC, conducted without a written examination under the horizontal reservation system. He added that badminton infrastructure is being proposed as a mandatory facility in Sports Development Centres across the state.KL University vice-chancellor Dr G Parthasarathy Verma said participation in sports helps students develop physical fitness and mental strength. He said the tournament features men’s doubles matches and will continue for the University.
