In an attempt to support the badminton players of the state and Indian badminton as a whole, the National Centre of Excellence was inaugurated in Guwahati. Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated this new state-of-the-art National Centre of Excellence. The Badminton Association of India and the Assam Government also signed an MoU.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is also the president of the Badminton Association of India. Several dignitaries from the sport also attended this event. These included the Olympian Taufik Hidayat, chief coach of the Indian team Pullela Gopichand and members of the Thomas Cup winning team. Assam Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Nandita Gorlosa was also present alongside key officials of the BAI.
Calling it a dream come true, the president of BAI mentioned the seven-year-long journey to set it up. He mentioned that this is one of the best stadiums for the sport in the world for the sport. He also added that it will be a milestone in terms of Assam’s journey in sports.
This National Centre of Excellence has several world-class facilities. These include a remarkable 16 courts designed to meet the rigorous training needs of 60 athletes in Phase 1. The centre has a 4000 sq ft gymnasium with modern fitness equipment, a 60-bed hostel for players and a dedicated 2000 sq ft physiotherapy centre. This will ensure that the athletes receive the best possible care and support to maintain their peak performance.
The facility has a massive space of 40000 sq ft. And it aims to redefine the sport of badminton as a whole. The chief minister also welcomed the players from other parts of the country to visit and practice in this new stadium.
The general secretary of BAI Sanjay Mishra also mentioned that this facility will provide a comprehensive ecosystem for the sport. And everyone related including athletes, coaches and sports professionals will benefit from this facility.
