Badminton a Priority Sport; High-Standard Training Guaranteed: Sports Minister

Bhubaneswar, May 2026: Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Minister, Shri Suryabanshi Suraj, visited the Odisha SAI RBA Badminton Academy in Saheed Nagar today to review existing facilities and interact with the state’s budding badminton talent.

During the visit, the Minister held detailed discussions with the Director of Sports, academy coaches, and officials from the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS). To ensure a first-hand assessment of the academy’s operations, he personally met with the 95 resident cadets to gather feedback on critical aspects such as coaching quality, hostel accommodation, and daily nutrition.

Emphasizing that badminton remains a top priority for the state, the Minister directed officials to maintain a “holistic and athlete-centric environment.” He stressed that providing players with world-class support is essential to ensure they have the necessary tools to succeed at both national and international levels.

“Badminton is a priority sport for us, and we are committed to ensuring that our athletes receive training of the highest standards,” stated Minister Suryabanshi Suraj. He further added that every effort must be made to create the best possible conditions for young sportspersons to excel and bring laurels to the state.

To further the academy’s development, the Minister instructed officials to closely monitor several critical benchmarks. He specifically highlighted the need for high-quality, structured coaching standards, superior living conditions for all 95 resident cadets, and the implementation of science-based nutrition plans designed to effectively support peak athletic performance.

Concluding the review, the Minister directed the concerned officials to ensure that coaching, housing, and nutrition are subject to continuous improvement. He emphasized that the administration’s focus should not only be on meeting existing benchmarks but also on consistently striving to exceed them to set new standards in sports excellence.

This visit reaffirms the state government’s unwavering dedication to transforming Odisha into a global sports hub by investing in grassroots talent and providing world-class infrastructure for the next generation of champions.

Avinash Sagar