Players pose for a photo during last year's Top Eight Finals

Top players in the country will grace the second edition of the National Badminton League circuit planned for Kisii School  this weekend

The event is organised by the Nairobi Badminton League in collaboration with Elite Sports Badminton Academy and Kisii School.

Elite Sports Badminton Academy founder and Nairobi Badminton League committee member, Brijesh Sonigra, said Kenya One Sammy Sikoyo is among the 180 badminton players who have confirmed their participation.

Other top badminton players who have registered are Edwin Akonyi, Fabian Derrick, Alex Babu, and last year’s top eight winner, Calvin Simiyu. “All top badminton players will be in Kisii this weekend, and we expect a highly competitive tournament,” noted Sonigra.

He added: “This is the first of a four-part series to be held in Kisii, Nakuru, Mombasa and Nairobi. This will culminate in a top eight competition bringing together top players from all the regions.”

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The two-day competition will feature various categories including men's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles, veterans singles and doubles, corporate team event and juniors U-19. "The event guarantees an exhilarating experience, uniting enthusiasts and professionals from all over the country," he noted.

He added that the distribution of ranking points throughout the tournament has intensified the competition and prestige associated with the tournament.

The entry fee is Sh500 for singles and doubles per person, veterans will pay Sh1,000, while corporations will pay Sh20,000. He said, badminton players came together and founded the Nairobi Badminton League to keep themselves engaged.

“Badminton Kenya has done little in promoting the game in the country. That’s why we founded the NBL. We aim to tap, promote and expose talent from all over the country,” said Sonigra.

He appealed to corporations to sponsor their activities. “At the moment, we don’t have sponsors, but last year, we had a sponsor for the Top Eight Finals,” he added.