Increasing the Number of Players is the Objective – Prakash Padukone
Pune: Since the inception of the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, the focus has largely been on elite players. However, with the objective of identifying talent at the grassroots level and nurturing players from a young age, the Padukone School of Badminton has now been launched, said India’s legendary badminton player and Padma Shri awardee Prakash Padukone.As part of the Padukone School of Badminton initiative, Padukone has decided to collaborate with the Avinash Wardekar Badminton Academy, which is operated by the Pune District City Badminton Association. Padukone was in Pune to formalize this agreement. Speaking on the occasion, he stated that the collaboration will introduce a certified curriculum along with new technical assessment methods for coaches.Under Padukone’s guidance, the academy will also conduct coach development programs and specialized training sessions for emerging grassroots players. These programs will commence from 2026 at the Pune District Badminton Association’s Modern Sports Complex.From next year, the Avinash Wardekar Badminton Academy will function under the name “Avinash Wardekar Badminton Academy – Powered by Padukone School of Badminton.” This partnership will ensure modernization and steady progress for badminton in Pune, said Ranjit Natu, Secretary of the Pune District Badminton Association. PDMBA President Aniruddha Deshpande, Senior Vice President Shashank Halbe, Treasurer Sarang Lagu, and other officials were present at the event.“While a lot of work has been done with elite players so far, there is a strong need to focus more on junior players. The decision to work from the grassroots and develop players from scratch has been taken with the aim of increasing the overall number of players,” Padukone said. He also emphasized that the initiative will not be limited to players alone, as coaches will also receive structured guidance, helping build a strong pool of qualified coaches.Speaking about the progress of Indian badminton, Padukone noted that while India has achieved success at the international level, consistency remains a concern. “We have immense talent. With significant government support in terms of infrastructure and financial assistance, players must take greater initiative to utilize these facilities. Somewhere, the hunger for success is lacking. If players adopt a winning mindset rather than just participating, the overall picture of Indian badminton will certainly change,” he added.
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