The Goa Badminton Association (GBA) has partnered with the Padukone School of Badminton (PSB) to create a comprehensive ecosystem for nurturing badminton talent in Goa. The collaboration aims to develop a structured program that will identify and train players from the grassroots level to the elite level. A dedicated administrative setup will be established, with a project manager overseeing the collaboration. The GBA’s new office in Pato will serve as the operational hub for this initiative.
Under the partnership, PSB will lead the technical design, capacity building, and implementation of talent pathways, while the GBA will manage government licensing, access to infrastructure, tournament governance, and mobilize CSR funds to support the programs. The PSB team, led by badminton legend Prakash Padukone, will work with the GBA to roll out the program across Goa.
The initiative emphasizes “badminton for all” and aims to bring the sport closer to communities through indoor and outdoor training at schools and panchayats. Local tournaments will help identify and nurture promising talent, while district and state tournaments will serve as stepping stones to advanced training programs. The GBA plans to set up centers in North and South Goa, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa and the Association of Sports for Young Athletes.
The long-term vision is to establish a full-fledged badminton academy in Goa that attracts players from across India, transforming the state into a hub for high-performance training and competition. Coach development is a central pillar of the plan, with existing Goan coaches participating in “train-the-trainer” and upskilling programs at PSB in Bengaluru. Recruitment of new coaching staff will ensure consistent mentorship across all stages of player development.
The collaboration is expected to build a sustainable badminton ecosystem in Goa, with the appointment of a project manager and the launch of grassroots programs expected within 30 to 45 days. Technology and AI-driven training tools will be introduced to enhance technical and performance analysis for state-ranking and elite players. Prakash Padukone praised Goa’s infrastructure, calling it “one of the best among smaller states in India,” and emphasized the need to channel this infrastructure towards player development. The ultimate goal is to create an academy in Goa that attracts players from all over India, rather than having Goan players leave the state for better training.