IDBI YoungChamps set to begin their training

Mumbai: The six winners of the IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence #YoungChamps programme are set to begin their training at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad underway from May 1 and extend for a period of two years. The training is fully sponsored by IDBI Federal Life Insurance.

Five of the children will undergo full-time training at the Academy while Sakshi Prakash from Dubai has opted for part-time training. The part-time training will be imparted for two months during the summer vacation, 15 days during the Diwali vacation and 15 days during the winter vacation.

Under the guidance of Badminton Legend, Pullela Gopichand and his team of Indian and international coaches, the selected children from various parts of the country will undergo rigorous training which will focus on their individual requirements. The 6 #YoungChamps will train along with the other kids at the Academy on a daily basis from Monday-Friday for upto 6 hours per day. They will also get the opportunity to observe and interact with the country's top national and international players which will further motivate and inspire them.

The #YoungChamps selected are:

1. Abhinav Garg, Bengaluru

2. Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye, Mumbai

3. R. Sphoorty, Hyderabad

4. Sakshi Prakash, Dubai

5. Shanay K. Patel, Ahmedabad

6. Showrya Kiran, Hyderabad

IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence #YoungChamps programme is India's first-ever grassroots-level badminton initiative launched in December 2017. The aim of the programme is to promote badminton among the youth and to identify budding badminton players who will be the country's next champions. The eventual seven winners of the #YoungChamps programme were selected after a comprehensive evaluation process which was conducted over three stages by Pullela Gopichand and his team of coaches. While six kids will go on to undertake the training at the Academy, one child has opted out due to personal reasons.

Karthik Raman, CMO, IDBI Federal Life Insurance said, "We wish our six #YoungChamps all the very best as they begin their training at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. The training programme will not only serve as a platform to encourage these talented youngsters towards taking up badminton as a career but it will also bring to the fore, the rising stars of tomorrow. We urge the children to put their best foot forward and to make the most of this select opportunity to train with badminton legend, Pullela Gopichand and his excellent team of coaches."

Pullela Gopichand, Chief National Coach for the Indian Badminton team and Programme Head, IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence said, "After a thorough evaluation process, we have selected six extremely skilled youngsters as the winners of the IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence #YoungChamps programme. The kids will now undergo intensive training at the Academy which will help to bring out the best in these young players. We are committed to train these #YoungChamps and help them grow into the future torchbearers of Indian badminton."