Bahrain gets new badminton academy

TDT | Manama                                                                         

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

World-class badminton player and coach Pullela Gopichand has launched Badminton Academy in Bahrain in association with Indian Club.

This comes as part of the expansion plans of Gulf Badminton Academy (GBA) based in Dubai, which has proved its mettle to become a global badminton hub, both in terms of providing education and worldclass facilities.

Under the mentorship of Pullela Gopichand, former All England Champion, GBA plans to open multiple academies in and around their Dubai hub and the Gulf countries, aiming to take badminton to further heights.

Prasad Mangipudi, founder of Premier Badminton League, which is world’s number one badminton league, is one of the co-founders of GBA.

“We are committed to providing extensive in-person training, online resources, and ongoing support to help launch and grow the Badminton sport in the Arab world,” Gopichand said, while speaking at the press conference held at Indian Club yesterday.

Thoffik Valiyakath, Managing Director of GBA, said: “GBA, after testing its success in five centers for the past eight months in Dubai with around 100 kids and adults, is expanding to the Kingdom through a strategic partnership with Indian Club.

“The main engine behind the concept of GBA is Mr Gopichand, who has incredible credentials not only as a great sportsman but also as a great coach, spending every moment of his career promoting the sport of badminton through his academy, which has produced world-class talent.”

The coaches at GBA, Bahrain will undergo training under Mr Gopichand at his academy in Hyderabad. Senior coaches from Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy (PGBA) will visit regularly to provide advanced skills.

Students of GBA, Bahrain, will have the opportunity to undergo training at GBA Centre of Excellence in Dubai as well as Pullela Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad.