Badminton player Aritra Nandi at the South Eastern Zonal Badminton Tournament. Picture by Ashok Karan

Ranchi, May 12: If Jharkhand shuttlers want to make it to the national circuit, they need two things: round the year coaching and corporate backing.

Speaking on a two-day visit to the state capital, Bengal shuttler Aritra Nandi said the state association could take help from coaches in Bengal and across the country to train players.

Nandi was in town to take part in the Championships organised by the South Eastern Railway Sports Association, Ranchi, at the officers? club, Hatia.

The ace shuttler said players needed regular training to make their mark in the circuit.

?There are excellent infrastructural facilities in Jharkhand, especially in Jamshedpur,? he said.

Nandi has an impressive track record in the sport. He was a part of the winning team at the World Railways Badminton Championships in Holland and has played in national tournaments for more than 23 years.

The shuttler, however, had another complaint ? the lack of sponsors in the game.

?There?s only one lawn tennis player in the country. Her name is Sania Mirza and the whole country, including corporate houses, are backing her,? said Nandi.

Turning to the badminton scene, he said: ?Our team went up to the quarter-final in the Thomas Cup, which is the equivalent of any top world championship, but we don?t stand anywhere because we aren?t getting support from big corporate houses.?

Nandi also played in the Inter-division Badminton championships.

Four divisions namely, Ranchi, Kharagpur, Chakradharpur and Garden Reach, Calcutta, took part in the two-day event, which concluded here today.

The Ranchi division could not make it to the finals of the tournament. Kharagpur and Garden Reach, Calcutta reached the finals.

In the finals, the winners were decided through three matches, namely, two singles and one doubles. The teams winning the best of three were adjudged the winner.

The Garden Reach team, emerged the champions. They defeated their opponents Kharagpur in the singles and doubles match.

In the singles matches, Debanjan Mazumdar of Garden Reach defeated Chandan Pramanik of Kharagpur, 21-14, 21-18.

The doubles saw the pair of Debanjan and Aritro Nandi of Garden Reach defeat Chandan and Mrinmoy Pal, 21-15, 13-21, 21-17.