IIT-Kharagpur to develop training module for Gopichand Academy

Kolkata: Country's premier technology institute, IIT Kharagpur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy to develop research and training module for the trainees of the Hyderabad-based sports facility.

"The thrust areas of the collaboration include developing training programs by IIT Kharagpur focusing on happiness and well being for enhancing the quality of performance and resilience," a statement from IIT-KGP said. A delegation from IIT Kharagpur led by Director Prof P P Chakrabarti met Gopichand in New Delhi on March 30 in this regard.

"Players and coaches from PGBA will benefit from these programs. Further the coaches will also be trained on how to use that knowledge while training players." Under the collaboration, IIT-KGP will also set up a sports academy in collaboration with Gopichand. "I am also very happy to know that a sports academy is coming up at IIT Kharagpur and looking forward to contributing to its development," Gopichand said in the statement.

Prof Chakrabarti added: "The academy would promote collaborative research related to happiness in sports in general and badminton particular and science and technology in sports training. "The scope would also include joint monitoring and use of materials used in general and badminton in particular by IIT Kharagpur and Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy."

The collaboration is spearheaded by S S Rekhi, US-based entrepreneur and alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, who funded the Rekhi Centre for Science of Happiness at IIT Kharagpur and his company R Systems is the sponsor of Gopichand Badminton Academy.