Hyderabad: State minister for MAUD and Information Technology and the president of the Telangana Badminton Association KT Rama Rao inaugurated the Jwala Gutta Badminton Academy of Excellence, at the Sudar Education Society Sujatha School in Nagireddyguda in Moinabad Mandal on Monday.
The world-class academy has 14 courts with a swimming pool and other facilities. KTR said the government will provide all help required for the academy and hoped it would become a factory of world champions. “We need two things for making a city a sports hub, first we need poster boys and girls and role models for young kids for inspiration. We have them in abundance in Hyderabad for kids to draw inspiration and the second is to have world-class facilities where they can become champions. We have these two things falling in place beautifully at this center. I do believe there is scope to do more and Jwala needs support from the government and we will give support to her in whatever way we can. I believe this will eventually become a factory of making champions,” he said.
“The reason for some countries winning medals, again and again, is because there is a system already in place to produce top champions. In India, there are only a few athletes like Jwala and their family putting in their own facilities. We need not celebrate once a champion is made but we need more infrastructures to make more champions. It is not just players who are to be rewarded it is their coaching staff, who go unrecognized,” he added.
He also revealed that the State, under the leadership of Sports Minster K Srinivas Goud will come out with a comprehensive sports policy soon.
Meanwhile, Dronacharya and noted badminton coach SM Arif said, “Jwala is there with me right from her childhood and I am happy to be a mentor for this academy. I have been to over 22 countries and rarely did I find wonderful facilities like what we have here at this academy. Apart from the world-class equipment for conditioning, analysis, we have a swimming pool, separate enclosures for physiotherapy, and a psychologist. Now it is up to the players to use these facilities to their best. I firmly believe this academy will produce champions,” he added.
Sports Minister Srinivas Goud also lauded Jwala for the world-class facility. “Our State will become a prominent force in Indian sports in the coming days. Our government is giving a lot of importance to sports and to come up with such facilities in Hyderabad is a huge boost for athletes,” he said.
Jwala said it was her dream to open the badminton academy and promised to bring world champions from it. SATS chairman A Venkateshwar Reddy and Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah were also present at the inauguration.
