CNV2-I2-7-CSR Innovation
The budding badminton aspirants in Chhattisgarh now have a better platform to hone their skills through Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, which is opened at ITM University, Raipur in June 2017. The bhoomi pujan marked the beginning of the academy to get ready in a year’s time. Powered by Tata Trust, it will be first of its kind in the state with a university integrated professional sports academy aiming at bringing together academics and sports.
TATA’s are trying to integrate sports in overall fabric of work and integrating it with work in education. For this purpose, TATA Trust decided to set aside as much as Rs 100 crore annually by 2022 toward sports such as badminton, archery, kabaddi, hockey and football and will be closely tied to education initiatives it sponsors in various states.
Chief Minister Raman Singh, Pullela Gopichand, junior national coach Sanjay Mishra, national players Kidambi Srinath and HS Prannoy, Sanjay Mishra, Vice Chancellor, ITMU along with Anand Datla, Head, Assessment, Impact and Monitoring Tata Trusts and Neelam Babardesai, Head, Sports Tata Trusts were present at the inaugural event.
Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) has agreed to tie up with Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad for development of coaching standards in the state. With the cooperation of Gopichand Academy, SAAP will organise physical literacy programmes in all 13 districts to create awareness among the people on sports.
ITM Group of Institutions has announced its association with Srikanth Kidambi, India’s top Badminton player and winner of four world Super Series titles in 2017. The objective of this partnership is to inspire the student community to pursue their dreams with the passion and dedication of athletes like Srikanth Kidambi, and also to develop and support professional sports education in India. The association of Mr. Shrikant Kidambi as the Brand Ambassador and Mr H S Prannoy as the rising star, is matter of pride for ITM Group of Institutions.
During inauguration, Badminton Champion Srikanth Kidambi said, “It is a great pleasure to be associated with ITM Group of Institutions. Being known for its profound interest in education and commitment towards education to all, I along with ITM wish to shape a better future for students.”
The founder & chairman of ITM Group of Institutions, Dr. P V Ramana said on the occasion, “I have had the unique pleasure of witnessing thousands of careers taking off at ITM and dreams coming true, as our students turn to face the world, emboldened by their experiences at ITM and their desire to achieve something big.”
As per the statistics, India is projected to have the world’s youngest group with 64% of its population in the working group age, and an average population age of 24 years. Behind these huge numbers lies the massive untapped potential of the sports sector. With sports academy, ITM Group is bringing in an opportunity for aspiring players to pursue their sports success while preparing for the long term through a combination of professional training and education at various ITM campuses.
ITM Sports Academy will help sports-minded professionals strike the right balance between education and sport. it’s a commendable partnership at the time when men’s badminton is at take-off in the country. Hence, the education through sports will always excite students and no better way than imparting training through match experience, which teaches students on character and handling pressure situations.
Contribution by Research Team, ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai