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World in my racket

Photo: Murali kumar K.

On the racket Training alongside foreign players translates to variety, different styles and gains in confidence

When the badminton legend Prakash Padukone , hung up his racquet in 1989, his dream was to establish a world class training centre in Bangalore and that dream took root in 1994 with the establishment of The Padukone Badminton Academy (TPBA) in Prakas h Courts in Canara Union.

Over the years, the Centre, had been nursery for the bright, young talent from national champions like Manjusha Pawangadkar and Deepankar Bhattacharjee to Pullela Gopichand and Aparna Popat.

The current brigade of Anup Sridhar, Arvind Bhat, Aditi Mutkat, Trupti Murgunde and Ruth Misha have made the academy their training base. The academy had its share of problems including finding the right sponsor after BPL pulled out. The Tatas stepped in and helped keep the show keep going.

The recent development of foreign players making a beeline to the academy is indeed an encouraging sign. Beijing-bound Olympic qualifiers, including Petr Koukal of Czech Republic, Rajeev Ouseph of UK, Thilani Jayainsghe of Sri Lanka, besides a handful of English juniors, have been training in TPBA and all have good words for their host.

“I truly consider it as a world-class centre and it is a privilege to train here. The conditions have been perfect and helps me to acclimatise before the Olympics,” says Petr Koukal, who is ranked World No. 36.

British coach, Coli Houghton felt that training in the Academy gave his young wards good exposure and quality practice sessions with “highly talented” Indian players, while the Lankan lass Thilani, says “it is the best possible training centre, nearest to home”.

There have been enquiries from Far Eastern nations including Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and even Russians evincing lot of interest in training at the Academy. “I personally feel that this place has makings of an international centre. You have got everything, including best of coaches in Prakash Padukonea and Vimal Kumar. They should now market this as the ultimate training destination,” says Tom John, the UK-based coach, who is a travelling trainer for Indian ace, Anup Sridhar, who will be making a bow at the Beijing Olympics.

Commenting on the new found international flavour U. Vimal Kumar, Director of TPBA says, “We have not gone around advertising our academy. But on the overseas circuit, people were aware of the work that we have been doing. When I resigned as national coach, Prakash Padukone advised me to concentrate on the academy more and make it truly world class.”

When Vimal Kumar went to Europe this March, he had prepared brochures on the Academy and circulated them in right places.

“With Tata being an international brand , the name also helped. Most of our contemporaries were heading their respective national training centres in Europe and they encouraged their players to train with us.”

As Vimal Kumar sees it, TPBA going international, has many benefits. “When we have foreign players with us, they gain in terms of exposure to Asian conditions and our players, benefit from training with foreign players. There is variety, there are different styles and gains in confidence.”

Vimal Kumar says the academy doesn’t really worry about the commercial aspect.

“We are not throwing open our training just make a few extra bucks. Yes, at later point of time, we might charge little more, but our training charges for all foreign players just cover their basics, there is nothing extra. Thanks to KBA’s gesture, we have been able to provide good dorm facilities, food has not been a problem and they are blending well.”

In the end game, Vimal Kumar visualises Tata Padukone Badminton Academy going global with every facility and a classy training programme where everyone gets their money’s worth and more importantly, the game becomes the biggest winner.

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