(Article and Photos by Anne Weathersby)

The National Capitol Open Badminton Tournament at the University of Maryland this past weekend (January 11-13, 2008) exhibited some wicked-fast, heart-stopping world-class badminton play.  With a thwack and a pop, players reacted with lightning fast reflexes to deliver overhead smashes, clears, drives, flicks, and drop shots.  The three-day competition involved 397 matches, 265 court hours, and 236 players from as far as California, Argentina, and Massachusetts and as close as the DC metropolitan area.

For the second year in a row, BB&T Bank provided a $5000 prize purse, which qualified the event as a USA Badminton ranking tournament.  Several players in the draw were national and international competitors, including Yeping Tang, a former eight-time U.S. National Champion from Maryland, and the team of Sameera Gunatileka and Vincent Nguy, who are ranked second in the nation.  Top competitors from the local area included Amy Nguy, Kimberly Kramer, Desmond Wong, Nadeera Gunatileka and Hubert Wu. 

The National Capital Open, also known as the DC Open, has been played at the University of Maryland for many years.  It was hosted by the Badminton Club at the University of Maryland and the Badminton Club of DC and sponsored by BB&T Bank.  Events included men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.   

Results for the “A” Level:

• Men’s Singles: Ajit Umrani vs. Ben Hussey: 21-12 22-20.
• Women’s Singles: Yeping Tang vs. Rachel Liao: 21-6 21-11.
• Men’s Doubles: Vincent Lobo/Anil Nair vs. Sam Gunatileka/Vincent Nguy : 19-21 21-17 21-19.

  

Yeping Tang wins the mixed doubles match.

 

 Ajit Umrani wins in the mixed doubles final