Guwahati is set to become the new badminton powerhouse in India, with the inauguration of the National Center of Excellence of the Badminton Association of India (BAI). The state-of-the-art facility, a joint venture with the Assam Government, boasts 24 courts, a boarding facility for players, and a seating capacity of 3,000.
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In a significant move, the center has enlisted the expertise of top-notch international coaches. Legendary Mulyo Handoyo of Indonesia, celebrated for training the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat, will lead as the singles head coach. Handoyo's previous contribution to the Indian national team is noteworthy; under his guidance in 2017, Kidambi Srikanth clinched four Super Series titles, and B Sai Praneeth secured one. After his impactful stint with India, Handoyo joined the Singapore team in early 2018.
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Joining him at the center are Ivan Sozonov, the former All England champion from Russia, as the doubles coach, and PV Sindhu's ex-coach, Park Tae Sang. Together with a dedicated group of Indian trainers, these international stalwarts aim to elevate India's badminton prowess.
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The National Center's inauguration, scheduled for August 11, will witness the presence of India's iconic Thomas Cup-winning team.
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Sanjay Mishra, the General Secretary of BAI, shared with PTI, "BAI has big plans and this excellence center and the appointment of these three coaches -- Mulyo, Sozonov and Park is the first step. Hand-picked talents will be made part of this center and they will be given foreign exposure and every other necessary facility. We are grateful to our sponsors and partners for making this happen. I am confident in a year's time you will be able to see the impact and changes."
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Until now, the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad and the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bangalore have been the primary training hubs for most Indian players. With the new center in Guwahati, BAI looks to further boost the sport's growth in India.
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