BAI and GoSports Foundation to host coach education programme

Applications open till 28^th February 2013

20 February 2013, Bangalore/New Delhi: In a first-of-its-kind coach education programme for badminton in the country, the Badminton Association of India, in partnership with the GoSports Foundation, is proud to announce an Intermediate Level Coach Education Programme.

Scheduled to be held at the state-of-the-art Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, between the 23^rd and 30^th of March 2013, the programme is open to a maximum of 30 Indian badminton coaches with a minimum of two years' coaching experience who have either played badminton at the national/international level or hold an NIS-SAI diploma.

The seven-day course, designed to encompass various aspects of badminton coaching, will also include information on the technical nuances of the game. The trainee coaches will be exposed to intricacies of sport medicine, sports nutrition, sports psychology and conditioning. The technical aspects of badminton will be administered by BWF technical expert Venugopal Mahalingam, National Coach Pullela Gopichand, Indonesian coach Edwin and other senior Indian coaches. Other experts involved with conducting the programme include conditioning expert Jagmohan Singh, sports medicine expert Dr. Ashok Ahuja, nutrition expert Mr. Venkatraman, sports psychologists Dr. Asis Goswami and Dr. Sanjeev Sahni and Physiotherapist Dr. Kiran. On successful completion of the course, the selected coaches will be accredited with the BAI for conduct of National Development Programmes/National Coaching Camps. 

In a unique model of alliance between a private foundation and a sporting federation, GoSports Foundation is responsible for the implementation and execution of the programme, while the BAI is overseeing the training modules and assessment of all coaches completing the programme. "It is encouraging to see that a private foundation, such as the GoSports Foundation, is forthcoming in offering their expertise and assistance to the development of the sport and its coaches. It is partnerships such as these that will provide the necessary and solid foundation for the holistic development of badminton in the country," said Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta, Course Chairman and President, BAI. "This course will enable the competent badminton coaches to be equipped with training method and updated knowledge of sports sciences. Which will go a long way in improving the standard of Indian badminton players at all levels," said Mr. T.P.S. Puri, Course Director and Vice President, BAI.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Nandan Kamath, Managing Trustee at the GoSports Foundation, said, "Having aided the development of junior talent since 2008, we have noticed that the need of the hour in the country is the professional identification and nurturing of high potential talent available in a given sport. This is a task that, we believe, can be fulfilled through the implementation and development of a potent coaching infrastructure in the country and through capacity building amongst those developing our junior talent."

The application process will remain open till the 28^th of February 2013. All eligible candidates can apply by completing application forms that are available with the BAI, affiliate units of the BAI and the State Federations and may also be obtained by e-mailing foundation@gosports.in.