BAI unveils Rs 10 cr investment plan to strengthen Badminton at grassroots level
The Badminton Association of India will invest over Rs 10 crore annually to enhance grassroots infrastructure and tournaments, while offering substantial cash rewards for international achievers. Grants, prize money, and Olympian support have been significantly increased to strengthen India's badminton ecosystem
Hyderabad: The Badminton Association of India has decided to go for a strategic investment of more than Rs. 10 crores to identify, nurture and develop talent across the country as part of its efforts to make India a global badminton powerhouse.
It may be mentioned here that the BAI has already laid a strong foundation with initiatives like the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati.
The decision to this effect was taken at the Association’s Annual General Body meeting held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, president of BAI and also Chief Minister of Assam.
The BAI will invest over Rs. 9.75 crore each year in development of grass root initiatives and helping State Associations conduct domestic tournaments.
The total prize pool and grant allocation for the national tournament stands at Rs 3.8 croresI. The BAI also made financial provisions for paying Rs. 1 lakh per month to Olympians and Rs 50,000 per month to coaches who have represented the official Indian team in international events and are currently coaching at National Camps held across three locations.
“But given the size of our country, one NCE was never going to be enough and hence we are providing grants to state associations to come up with development across the state and the current increase in grant will help them enhance their existing programs,” said BAI president after the AGM.
Beginning this year, the annual grant to State Associations has been increased from Rs 7.5 lakhs to Rs 10 lakhs, while the prize money for national ranking tournaments for all age groups has also been doubled. BAI will also provide additional grants of Rs.15 lakhs to Under-13 events and Rs. 2 lakh each for organisers of Senior and Under-19 ranking tournaments and Rs. 3 lakhs to organisers of Under-15 and Under -17 All India ranking events.
The total investment in all the National Championships have also been increased by over 50 percent, thereby incentivising state associations to host more national level events.
Dr. Sarma said looking after the needs of up-and-coming players, motivating them and providing them better financial incentives was critical for the development of the sport and chart out a pathway through which the future course.
Hereafter, the senior national ranking tournaments will have a prize purse of Rs. 10 lakh, Under-19 national ranking (Rs 8 lakhs), Under-15 and Under-17 national ranking (Rs 12 lakhs) and Under-13 national ranking events will have a prize pool of Rs 6 lakhs.
The total grant and prize money for all the National Championships was also increased from Rs 2.13 crores to Rs 3.2 crores.
The apex body also decided to make a special provision of substantial cash rewards for players who are making their mark on the international stage. A player/pair winning the BWF World Tour Super 1000 title will get a cash reward of Rs 10 lakhs, a World championships gold medallist will Rs. 20 lakhs.
Even juniors will have a chance of winning handsome rewards if they win medals at the world and Asian championships with gold winners allocated a highest prize purse of Rs 15 lakhs and Rs 10 lakhs respectively.
Even a gold medal in senior team events will fetch a cash reward of Rs.50 lakh while the juniors teams will get a reward of Rs. 30 lakhs
Hereafter, the Senior national ranking tournaments will have a prize purse of Rs. 10 lakh, Under-19 national ranking (Rs 8 lakhs), Under-15 and Under-17 national ranking (Rs 12 lakhs) and Under-13 national ranking events will have a prize pool of Rs 6 lakhs.
