MIXED DOUBLES: Olympic medal winner PV Sindhu and her mentor Pullela Gopichand inaugurate Racquets, an integrated badminton, squash and table tennis facility at JSCA International Stadium Complex in Dhurwa, Ranchi, on Sunday while BCCI's acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary puts his hands together for the splendid moment and stadium spokesperson Ajay Nath Shahdeo looks on.

Later, Sindhu and Gopichand (not in picture below) played a friendly in the new shuttle court.

"It is nice to see (that) this (cricket) stadium has facilities for others sports too," Sindhu said, referring to the three-storey, 875sqm Racquets complex, which also boasts yoga and aerobics space, and a store for sports gear and accessories.

"It is unfortunate that physical literacy is not given priority though every child should have the skills of running, jumping, climbing and swimming," said Gopichand, the chief national coach for the Indian badminton team.

Speaking to the media after the inauguration, the coach also said Indian badminton players had realised their inherent talent and were expected to do much better in the next Olympics.Owing to heavy rain, the launch of Racquets was delayed by over an hour. Chaudhary took a cue and said, "In our country, the rain is considered a good omen. Let's hope the showers here are prophesying good things to come.

"In a related development, Ravi Shekhar Singh of Jamshedpur was nominated the new treasurer of Jharkhand Badminton Association at the annual general meeting in Ranchi. Gopihand was also felicitated on the occasion.

Pictures by Manob Chowdhary