Gopichand-led High-Performance Centre set to nurture world-class talent

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 20, 2026

Odisha is set to take a major leap in its sporting ambitions with the State Badminton Academy scheduled to become operational from April 1 at the Dalmia Bharat Pullela Gopichand Badminton High-Performance Centre inside Kalinga Stadium, here. The move is aimed at transforming the state into a nursery for elite shuttlers through structured, world-class coaching and scientific training.

The academy will function as the state’s premier badminton training hub, identifying promising players from across Odisha and grooming them for national and international competitions. The initiative has already received approval from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, following a proposal from the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation. The project is being implemented through a collaborative effort involving the Department of Sports and Youth Services, the foundation, and Dalmia Cement (Bharat).

A high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg was held at Lok Seva Bhawan on Friday to assess preparations for the academy’s launch. Among those present were Sports and Youth Services Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Sports Director Dr. Yedula Vijay, Chief National Coach Pullela Gopichand, and senior representatives from Dalmia Cement. The meeting focused on annual operational planning, training modules, infrastructure readiness, and financial arrangements required to run the academy on a sustainable basis.

The Odisha government will extend financial support for the academy’s functioning, with additional backing from Dalmia Cement. Officials reviewed logistical issues related to the commencement of training programmes and resolved to ensure that all arrangements are completed in time for the April rollout. Reaffirming the state’s commitment to sports development, the Chief Secretary emphasised that badminton will receive focused attention alongside other disciplines at Kalinga Stadium.

She noted that the launch of the academy would create a structured pathway for young shuttlers, enabling systematic talent identification and high-performance coaching. With Gopichand and a team of experienced coaches overseeing training, the state aims to produce international-level players in the coming years.

Gopichand, who attended the meeting, discussed key requirements for making the high-performance centre fully functional and expressed confidence that the academy would be ready for full-scale operations from April 1. He said the programme would provide Odisha’s emerging players with exposure to global training standards and help place the state firmly on the international badminton map.

The high-performance centre itself was inaugurated on December 12, 2024, at Kalinga Stadium in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Gopichand. Designed in the shape of a shuttlecock, the state-of-the-art complex features multiple indoor courts, spectator seating, an amphitheatre, and residential facilities for athletes.

Built through a partnership between the Odisha government, the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation, and the Dalmia (Bharat) Group, the facility represents one of the most advanced badminton infrastructures in eastern India.