Bhubaneswar, March 3: The proposed badminton academy at Saheed Nagar indoor hall will become functional shortly with the state government deciding to augment its infrastructure.
The academy will be a collaboration between the state government and Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Sports department officials said Romen Ghosh, a former India international and Arjuna awardee was likely to head the academy. "A notification to admit players is likely to be issued in a month or two and the academy is expected to begin operations from May," said senior coach and Saheed Nagar Indoor Hall in-charge M.K. Sabat.
Sports officials said in the first phase, the academy will not have hostel facilities. "A two-storey hostel with a built-up area of 2,500sqft will be built by next year. The academy will accommodate 24 players with three coaches to train them. A doctor and a dietician will also be roped in," Sabat said.
Nearly a hundred senior, junior and sub-junior level players use the existing indoor hall, which has four courts.
"This will be a great opportunity for the state's players to make it to the next level. Many players play badminton to maintain fitness instead of taking it up as a career," said a sports department official.
The state capital has two government-run indoor facilities, one at Unit-I and the other at Saheed Nagar, for badminton. Besides, there are nine other indoor halls for badminton, including ones at Utkal University, Regional Research Laboratory and Mancheswar. But the absence of proper coaching at these facilities have led to poor performances in inter-state tournaments," said another sports department official.
The players are also hopeful of the academy creating opportunities for them. "Though badminton is mostly popular as a winter sport, most players don't take it up as a career. Players from Odisha fail to shine at the national level because of the lack of coaching facilities. The academy will help produce national and international players from the state," said Ajit Mohanty, a state-level player.
