Bhubaneswar, May 16: On Monday, Odisha CM inaugurated the Regional Badminton Academy at Indoor Hall Complex in Saheed Nagar here. It has been set up by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in collaboration with Odisha Sports & Youth Services Department. Indian Badminton team’s chief national coach, Pullela Gopichand was also present at the inauguration ceremony. Few days ago, Gopichand had selected 33 players for the academy. Patnaik expressed his happiness to media upon the badminton academy in the capital city. He further said that under the guidance of Shri P Gopichand, some national and international badminton players will definitely come out. Eastern and North-Eastern states’ players will be able to avail training in the academy. The opening of the academy aims to nurture and train potential badminton trainees for the 2024 Olympics. Gopchand stated that children born within 2006-08 will be trained in the academy to become future champions of the country, coming from Odisha.
