Dipankar. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Guwahati, June 11: Former badminton ace Dipankar Bhattacharjee has moved his employers, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), with a detailed proposal soliciting sponsorship for his dream project — an academy for shuttlers.        

In his proposal to the IOC chairman and managing director, the three-time national champion and two-time Olympian has sought sponsorship of Rs 15 lakh per annum for five years on “mutually beneficial” terms for starting the academy — Iswarati: Centre for Badminton Learning — named after his parents.

Dipankar, deputy manager (retail sales) in the IOC’s divisional office here, revealed his plans to retire and open an academy for shuttlers of the Northeast late last month.

In the intervening period, a senior NF Railway official has informally approached Dipankar to set up the academy at the Maligaon stadium till alternative arrangements were ready.

The Assam Badminton Association’s secretary Omar Rashid, too, has extended support to the former ace, asking him to work with the younger players. Dipankar is holding morning sessions with youngsters at the Kanaklata indoor hall following Rashid’s request.

The badminton official is preparing a strong case to secure the Arjuna award for the former champion.

Sources close to Dipankar said he would decide his next step after a reply from the IOC. However, that could not be a hurdle in his plans because a major sports promoter of the country has been in touch with him for starting the academy, the sources added.

The Olympian has proposed to initially use the Kanaklata indoor hall for his academy and later move to one of the stadiums for the 2005 Games. The academy will have five paid personnel on its rolls — chief coach, assistant coach, yoga instructor, manager and office assistant.

The trainees, 10 boys and an identical number of girls, will be selected on merit in consultation with the badminton association.

Dipankar promised to focus on top players for the 2005 Games in the first year of operation. The academy will help trainees win various age-group national meets from the third year, and produce a senior national champion by the fifth year.