TELANGANA: A world-class badminton academy which brings together sports equipment giant Li Ning and former SAI coach U. Bhaskar Babu is set to come in LB Nagar area of the city.
The academy, which is a dream project of Bhaskar Babu and his NRI friends and sports lovers will be ready in a few weeks’ time.
The SAI coach, who retired a couple of years ago, says that the Academy on the two-acre site will also have well-furnished accommodation facility for about 100 members and will be functional by the second week of May.
“Yes, we planned it in such a way that the Academy located at Bonguluru junction near LB Nagar Ring Road will cater to the needs of those willing to be residential trainees too. The 100m jogging track is in tune with the general expectations of many athletes which should be useful to let them stay fit,” says Bhaskar Babu, who was not long ago referred to as the ‘Lucky Mascot’ by India’s ace-woman shuttler Saina Nehwal when she trained with him for a few weeks.
And his trainees include former national champions Chetan Anand and Neelima Choudhary.
“The whole idea of the Academy is to give back something to the game. Frankly, there were many offers from across India to set up this kind of Academy. But, somehow it seems destined that I have to be in Hyderabad as my friends and well-wishers have come up with this dream project,” he says.
International standards
“I can assure you that this will be a truly international standard academy as it also has a swimming pool, gym and spa, physiotherapy centre, ice bath and a canteen catering to about 100 members at one time besides the 24 x 7 medical and security assistance wing,” he explained.
“So, I don’t look at this venture as one coming up as some sort of competition to any, but a sincere effort to produce more number of champions as we have decided to give direct admission to the talented in the age group of six to nine years and then give preference to medallists representing the State at national-level tournaments – totalling in all about 100 trainees,” explained Bhaskar Babu who will be assisted by some senior players who are active in the circuit and who can double up as sparring partners.