Guwahati, Dec 3: The India International Challenge Badminton Championship got underway here today, the first international badminton championship being played in the state.

Over 100 players from 10 countries are participating in the event, with the host country's top names also playing in the championship.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi declared the Championship open this afternoon. Though the competition was slated to start from yesterday, the qualifying rounds were scrapped and all players were given direct entry into the main draw.

Arjuna awardees Chetan Anand and Sandeep Singh Dhillon, along with state shuttlers who had won medals in the last SAARC Games in Sri Lanka, were also felicitated today.

The 15,000 dollar prize-money four star championship will be played on four Hoya couts in the Rajiv Gandhi stadium, with the finals slated for December 5.

Indian shuttlers led the seeds tally in both the men's and women's events, with Saina Nehwal top ranked in the women's draw and Chetan Anand in the men's lot.

UNI