HYDERABAD: The Badminton Association of India, which is formulating plans for its own national coaching centre (NCC), is vetting proposals to set it up either here or in Bengaluru. For this, the BAI has budgeted between Rs30 million and Rs40 million.
Vivek, a Bengaluru-based industrialist, whose badminton academy with world-class facilities, including 16 courts and a hostel, is likely to be ready by the first week of December, is keen to enter into an agreement with BAI wherein the national governing body of the shuttle sport is assured complete control over the facility, a senior BAI official told The Hindu.
To keep its options open, BAI president Himanta Biswa Sarma has also written to the Telangana state government to allot an indoor stadium in the city on lease for 15 years, the daily reports.
The Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) is, however, keen only on a 10-year lease, to be renewed thereafter. “Yes, the matter is being discussed at a high level and a decision will be taken very soon,” SATS VC & MD A Dinakar Babu told The Hindu.
If the NCC does come up here, BAI’s preferred choice is the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium as it has an attached hostel facility. “We will take a call very soon depending on the response from the Telangana government,” the BAI official said.
“Importantly, we want all the national players in one camp and not train at academies of their choice as is the case now. By ensuring all the facilities at one place, we can make sure all the big players will be there in one national camp,” the official said. “We are also going to make it clear that if they don’t attend these national camps, they will not be considered for selection,” he added.
