BPL to support Prakash Padukone

The BPL group announced on Friday that it would continue to support to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, and the newly formed Indian Badminton Confederation

The group acceded to the request made by the badminton ace, who is committed to making the game more professional and improving the game in the country.

V Shekhar, BPL's vice-president (strategic marketing), said, ''Prakash Padukone is an exceptional sportsman. We believe in him and in his new movement to put Indian badminton on the world map.''

The group has been associated with the successfully run PPBA since October 1994. The academy caters to the need of developing players, honing their talents, focusing on technique, physical fitness and psychology.

Fifteen players, belonging to different age groups, train under the watchful eyes of Padukone and former national champion and Olympian Vimal Kumar at the academy sponsored by the BPL group.

The academy is the first of its kind in India, and its alumni include Aparna Popat, who claimed the silver medal at the recent junior world championship at Silkeborg, Denmark. Aparna has been associated with the academy since its inception.

P Gopichand, the rising star of Indian badminton, has also been training with the academy for the past year, during which his international ranking improved from 189 to 34.