This story is from January 19, 2022
para-badminton
academy with advanced equipment and facilities has been set up in Lucknow.The centre has been launched by Dronacharya awardee and head national coach of Indian para-badminton team, Gaurav Khanna, in association with Ageas Federal Life Insurance.Khanna
also unveiled the Ageas Federal ‘Quest for Fearless Shuttlers’ programme to spot and nurture new talent for the 2028 and 2032 Paralympics.The high-performance centre consists of four courts, two with BWF-approved synthetic mats for standing athletes and two wooden courts for wheelchair athletes.The centre has all modern facilities, including a fully-equipped gym, provisions for ice, steam and sauna baths and jacuzzi hydrotherapy. It also has disabled-friendly rooms for athletes.“India has produced several para champions but they could never train in a professional setup. Since 2015, I have been doing whatever I can at makeshift, rental venues,” Khanna said, adding that with the help of Ageas Federal Life, he managed to create a world-class facility for para-badminton players.“Apart from backing marathons, we have supported badminton at the grassroots level,” Karthik Raman, chief marketing officer, AFLI, said. Top para-shuttlers and medal hopefuls at Paris Paralympics 2024, Pramod Bhagat, Manoj Sarkar, Nitesh Kumar, Krishna Nagar, Nithya Sri and Palak Kohli, along with upcoming para-shuttlers, attended the ceremony. TNN
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