Stage set for global badminton centre in Telanga State

Gachibowli (Hyderabad): Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (Kotak) and Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation (Foundation) performed the 'Bhoomi Puja' to commence construction of a world-class badminton training centre at the Pullela Gopichand Academy located in Gachibowli, Telangana here on Wednesday.

Chief guest E S L Narasimhan, Governor, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and guest of honour V Srinivas Goud, Sports and Youth Services Minister, Telangana graced the Bhoomi Puja function.

Kotak, under its CSR Programme in Sports, has collaborated with Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation to develop a state-of-the-art badminton training centre, a sports science centre, a coach certification programme and fellowship programmes for coaches and players for advanced training of champion players as well as to cater to talented aspirants from underprivileged communities.

The upcoming badminton centre will comprise of six air-conditioned badminton courts with advanced infrastructure, amenities and international-standard coaches to help players maximise and realise their true potential.

Pullela Gopichand, Chairman, Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation and Chief National Coach, Badminton Association of India said:

"To develop world champions in any sport, a sportsperson's ability, passion and determination to succeed is of utmost importance. Under Kotak's CSR Programme, we are enhancing the infrastructure and programmes at the academy. This will improve the standards of the top players by helping them adjust to world-class air-conditioned competition venues.

"The programme will also help our next generation of players through required intervention at the sports science centre. Through this CSR programme, we intend to help the development of our coaches and players so as to sustain and further accelerate the growth of Indian badminton at the world level."

Rohit Rao, Chief Communication Officer and Head - Corporate Responsibility and CSR, Kotak Mahindra Group said: "Kotak's CSR Programme is focused on the areas of education and livelihood, healthcare and sports. Over the past many years the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation led by Pullela Gopichand has done exemplary work in training and producing several leading players on the international circuit and at the Olympics.

"We believe that Kotak's CSR Programme in Sports in collaboration with Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation will further strengthen efforts to train, mentor and produce world-class badminton players from India."

The Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation, a public charitable trust runs the premier badminton training facility in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, a release said. At present, the academy has seventeen non-airconditioned courts, a gymnasium with premium training facilities and residential rooms.

So far, around 2,000 players and 200 coaches have undergone training at the academy which has produced world-class badminton players such as Saina Nehwal, P V Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Parupalli Kashyap, R M V Gurusaidutt, Sikki Reddy, Satwik Sai Raj and host of other top players.