New Delhi: Sports Authority of India and Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation (PGBF) today joined hands to establish a SAI Gopichand National Badminton Academy at Gachibowli, Hyderabad. A Memorandum of Understanding for this purpose was signed today in the presence of SAI Director General Injeti Srinivas. The Academy is being established for optional utilization of the facilities being developed with National Sports Development Fund assistance at PGBF. SAI will also utilise the facilities at the Academy for national training camps and competitions.
The Academy will select 50 players in a nation-wide talent search scheme for induction in the age group of 11 to 14 years. SAI will depute its coaches and from other government organisations like Railways, Oil and Natural Gas and other central government or state PSUs, a release said.
Srinivas welcomed the joint initiative and stated that it would serve as a role model to professionalise sports coaching in the country. Gopichand expressed satisfaction that this could help in institutionalising the present collaboration between SAI and his own efforts as a promoter of the sport. The BAI will be closely involved in the academy.
