Badminton News: Badminton India has inaugurated the ‘dream’ National Center of Excellence in Guwahati. In a great effort for the development of Indian badminton, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) on Friday inaugurated the National Center of Excellence in Guwahati, Assam.

The MoU was signed between BAI and the Government of Assam, opening a historic chapter for Indian sports at the launch event.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by various dignitaries including Assam CM and BAI President Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Olympic badminton legend Taufik Hidayat, Indian team head coach Pullela Gopichand and a member of the historic Thomas Cup winning team.

“This National Center of Excellence is a dream. It has been a long journey of seven years and I am delighted that today we not only have the best Center of Excellence in India, but also one of the best in the world. Even more encouraging, it will be part of Assam’s heritage and revolutionize the history of sport in the region,” commented the BAI President.

NCE offers a range of world-class facilities, including 16 courts designed to meet the training needs of 60 Phase 1 athletes. In addition, the center has a 4,000 square foot gymnasium with fitness equipment at state-of-the-art, 60-bed dormitory for players, a dedicated 1,000-acre, 2,000-square-foot physical therapy center to ensure athletes receive the best possible care and support to maintain peak performance .

Renowned international badminton coach Mulyo Handoyo from Indonesia, who will oversee the development of the singles player, former England champions from Russia Ivan Sozonov and Park Tae-Sang from Korea will lead a strong coaching panel with a series of Indian coaches, who also be coached and developed to meet global standards.

Indonesian legend Taufik Hidayat praised the steps BAI has taken to support the Indonesian badminton movement: “This national center of excellence has better and bigger facilities. I wish more Indian junior players become great players like Gopichand, Sindhu, Saina. I hope to be able to return in the near future. Good luck to the Indians as well as the Assam players.”

Spread over 40,000 square feet, the center is a milestone for Indian badminton.

Sanjay Mishra, General Secretary of BAI, said: “The centre’s modern facilities will provide a comprehensive ecosystem that will help athletes, coaches and sports professionals reach their full potential. He will make a significant contribution to the growth of the sport by creating an environment that fosters excellence and innovation. We also plan to expand the center further to help train more players in the future.

“This center is a testament to BAI’s vision of taking Indian badminton to the next level. I’m sure it will be the catalyst for a lot of success in the future,” commented Indian ace Kidambi Srikanth.

The crowded stadium also saw India’s top badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala, Krishna Prasad Garaga and Dhruv Kapila play thrilling exhibition matches in front of the crowds.

Article Tags: taufik hidayat, Badminton India