Jammu: The inaugural edition of the Elite Master’s Cup (EMC) 2026, a professional badminton team championship, concluded at the Chinar Indoor Sports Complex of Indian Institute of Technology Jammu after three days of competitive action and sporting excellence.
The tournament brought together teams from diverse professional sectors, providing a platform for participants to showcase their sporting abilities while promoting fitness, healthy competition and professional networking.
Participating teams included representatives from the Indian Army, Border Security Force, media organizations, Bar Association, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department, Department of Youth Services and Sports and IIT Jammu faculty and staff.
The championship witnessed closely contested matches and notable performances, highlighting the growing popularity of badminton among professionals and reinforcing the role of sports in promoting teamwork, discipline and mutual respect.
After a series of competitive encounters, the J&K Police team emerged as champions of the inaugural edition, displaying consistency and strong teamwork throughout the tournament. The JKPDD team finished as runners-up, while the Katu Satya Media Team and IIT Jammu Faculty & Staff reached the semi-finals.
During the closing ceremony, trophies and medals were presented to the winning teams and outstanding performers. The champions’ trophy was presented by Sartaj Ul Hasan, while the runners-up trophy was awarded by Nitin Joshi.
Organisers said the Elite Master’s Cup was conceived as a platform to strengthen bonds among professionals through sports while encouraging a culture of fitness and wellness. The event aligns with the objectives of the Fit India Movement, which promotes active and healthy lifestyles.
The championship was organised under the guidance of Manoj Singh Gaur, whose support played a key role in the successful conduct of the event.
The closing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Anup Shukla, Shiva S, Deepak Yadav, Abhishek Kumar, Pankaj Chauhan, Arvind Kumar, P S Rathore, R P Prajapat and Raj Srivastava.
IIT Jammu thanked all participating teams, officials, volunteers and members of the organising committee for contributing to the success of the championship and expressed confidence that the Elite Master’s Cup would grow into a flagship sporting event, promoting greater participation, professional networking and a vibrant sports culture across the region.
The successful conclusion of the inaugural tournament marked an important step in strengthening sports engagement among professionals and reaffirmed the role of educational institutions in promoting fitness, teamwork and community-building through sporting initiatives.
