In a landmark move, the Goa Badmin ton Association (GBA) has joined hands with the Padukone School of Bad minton (PSB) to create a structured ecosystem that promises to nurture tal ent from the grassroots all the way to the elite level. Announcing the initi ative, GBA officials out lined plans for a dedicat ed administrative setup, with a project manager — recommended by PSB — tasked with overseeing the collaboration.
The association’s newly commissioned office at Pato will serve as the operational hub for this ambitious venture. Under a Memorandum of Understanding, PSB will lead technical design, capacity building, and the implementa tion of talent pathways, while GBA will manage govern ment licensing, access to infrastructure, tournament gov ernance and mobilise CSR funds to support the programs. At the helm of the PSB team is badminton legend Prakash Padukone, supported by Balan T as Technical Director, Avik Nandi as CEO, Sri Harsha Bade as COO and Aditya Prakash as Head of Coaching. Together, they will work with GBA to roll out the programme across Goa. The initiative emphasises “badminton for all,” aiming to bring the sport closer to communities through indoor and outdoor training at schools and panchayats. Local tourna ments, ranging from inter-class competitions to taluka and district levels, will help identify and nurture promising tal ent. For higher-level players, district and State tournaments will serve as stepping stones to advanced training pro grams. GBA plans to set up centres in North and South Goa, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) and the Association of Sports for Young Athletes (ASYA). Excep tional players may also have opportunities to attend work shops and exchange programs at PSB’s Bengaluru base. The long-term vision is bold: a full-fledged badminton academy in Goa that attracts players from across India, transforming the state into a hub for high-performance training and competition. Coach development forms a central pillar of the plan. Existing Goan coaches will participate in “train-the-train er” and upskilling programs at PSB in Bengaluru, followed by similar certification and training courses within Goa. Recruitment of new coaching staff, from head coach to as sistant levels, will ensure consistent mentorship across all stages of player development. The appointment of the project manager and the launch of grassroots programmes connecting to various panchayats are expected within 30 to 45 days. Addition ally, technology and AI-driven training tools will be intro duced to enhance technical and performance analysis for state-ranking and elite players. “This collaboration will build a sustainable badminton ecosystem in Goa,” a GBA representative said, extending gratitude to the PSB leadership team, GBA executive com mittee members, and the media for their support. Responding to media questions, Padukone praised Goa’s infrastructure, calling it “one of the best among smaller States in India.” He emphasised that the key now was to channel this infrastructure toward player development. “Goa has the facilities and the passion — now it needs the structure. With the support of GBA, the Sports Authority of Goa, and the Government, I am confident this model will not only produce champions here but could become a blue print for other states,” he remarked. Highlighting the PSB’s Coach Education and Certification Programme, Padukone said it has already certified over 1,000 coaches at the grassroots level and plans to upgrade Goan coaches through training programs in both Goa and Bengaluru. “Ultimately, the goal is to reverse the trend of Goan players leaving the State for better training — and instead, create an academy here that attracts players from all over India,” he concluded
