It’s not every day that you read about a badminton tournament in the small country of Israel, but for the 4th year in a row, the Israel Junior International will be held in the city of Rishon LeZion.

This year, the tournament will host players from 12 countries, including Denmark, India, Russia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Slovenia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Cyprus, Lithuania and Moldova.

"This is the fourth consecutive time that we are hosting the tournament, and each year we try even harder to give the players an unforgettable experience both on and off the court" says tournament chairman Victor Yusim. "We are still 'young' in terms of international tournaments and we feel honored to have such a respected entry list. That’s why we are trying to create an event and not 'just a tournament'. This year, before competing at the City Sports Hall, all players and coaches will enjoy a relaxing trip to the Dead Sea and have a chance to experience one of Israel's gems."

The tournament begins on Thursday, March 14th. Finals are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Click here to see the 2012 winners
Click here to see this year's draws and results

For live updates and photos, go to the tournament's official Facebook page.

Article and photo by Nir Sade