Odisha State Badminton Academy to Launch on April 1 at Kalinga Stadium
Bhubaneswar is set to witness a major milestone in sports development with the official launch of the Odisha State Badminton Academy on April 1, 2026, at the Dalmia Bharat Pullela Gopichand High-Performance Centre, located inside Kalinga Stadium.
The academy, a joint initiative of the Odisha government, the Sports & Youth Services Department, the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation (PGBF), and Dalmia Cement (Bharat), aims to provide world-class training facilities to nurture young talent and produce international-level badminton players from the state.
A review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg at Lok Seva Bhawan finalised preparations for the launch.
The meeting was attended by badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, Sports Commissioner Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Sports Director Dr Yedula Vijay, and senior representatives from Dalmia Bharat.
The academy boasts a modern shuttlecock-shaped facility with multiple courts, spectator seating, an amphitheatre, and residential accommodations for players.
It was inaugurated earlier on December 12, 2024, by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Pullela Gopichand.
With strong government backing and elite coaching, the academy is expected to transform Odisha into a hub for badminton excellence.
Gopichand has pledged his full support to identify and nurture local talent, ensuring Odisha’s presence on the global badminton stage.
