Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated Chukkapalli Pitchaiah Memorial 60th Senior National Ball Badminton Championship-2015 at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium on Wednesday.

Addressing the participants who have come from all parts of the country, Mr Naidu asked them not to miss the spicy and delicious food that is famous in Vijayawada.

“Enjoy the spicy, rich and delicious food available in Vijayawada and nearby places. Eat as much as you can and visit the tourist spots. Enjoy the beauty of AP and also do well in the championship,” Mr Naidu said.

He also extended his New Year and Sankranti greetings to the players, saying, “We celebrate Sankranti on a grand scale and I wish you all a happy festival.”

Speaking about ball badminton, Mr Naidu said the game was born in rural India and is now globally played. “We will build world-class sports arenas in the new capital and develop sports infrastructure in Vijayawada, Vizag and Tirupati in the near future,” he said.

Assembly Speaker K. Siva Prasad Rao said that ball badminton was one of the best sports which didn’t need much investment.