history & profile

Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, was launched on October 1st, 1994. Located in Bangalore, the Academy is the brainchild of Mr. Prakash Padukone, Mr. Vimal Kumar and Mr. Vivek Kumar all stalwarts of Indian Badminton. Having won many International Badminton laurels for India, they knew well what was required to hone the future Indian Badminton Stars. They have created an Indian Badminton Academy, which imparts World-class Badminton coaching to trainees who are selected solely on merit and to whom training and facilities are provided on a scholarship basis.

Pune Centre:

Encouraged by the success of the Bangalore Centre, PPBA established the Pune Centre during July, 1999. Fifteen talented boys and girls were selected and training has been imparted to them on a year-round basis since then. Seasoned coaches Anil Modak and Hemant Hardikar are in charge of the training in Pune. The success of Aditi Mutatkar, Dhanya Nair, Aditya Chitre, Sayali Gokhale, Neha Pandit etc at the national junior level bear testimony to the progress made by our Pune Centre.

Yonex is a well known name in the Badminton equipment and apparel industry. Yonex has been sponsoring the academy's racquet and knitting requirement from 2006.

Selection procedure:

Selection to the academy is based solely on merit. The coaches watch the potential of candidates during national level tournaments and pick up those with the right attitude and skills. Offer of admission is given and those interested are admitted to the academy where year round training is imparted.

Players who aspire to become professionals like engineers / doctors are generally not chosen as the exacting professional curriculum will not permit the players to devote themselves wholeheartedly to Badminton.

Therefore, only those players who take up commerce / Arts are preferred during selections. Most of the trainees do their B. A / B. Com either through correspondence course or take time off for about 4-6 Weeks during March / April, go to their respective places, write exams and then return to Bangalore immediately after the exams.

Players’ obligations:

The trainees represent their respective states / institutions / organisations in various tournaments and are not required to represent the Academy. The only thing the trainees are required to do for the Academy is to wear the sponsor’s logo on their playing apparel.

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