The Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA) is keen to make optimum use of the infrastructure created by the State in some districts and thereby provide the much-needed impetus to the sport.
“We have the infrastructure across the State, good coaches and great minds. However we see them not put to use completely. Most of them (infrastructure) are in dilapidated condition. The MBA’s focus will be to take charge of the infrastructure on lease and get all these dots connected.
“We have to create a sustainable revenue model and we hope to present a blueprint to the State government in three months. Our focus in the coming years is to provide better facilities and support our players,” said Arun Lakhani, president, MBA after its 75th Annual General Meeting at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club on Sunday.
Initially the MBA will propose to the government to hand over the infrastructure at Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad and facilities at district-level built by the District Sports Office (DSO).
The MBA also has plans to set up two large academies in the next three years, help players get sponsorships and employment with PSUs, government departments and corporates and create a software that will make life easy for the players.
Sports marks issueMr. Lakhani told the AGM that he has taken up the matter of “sports marks” with the State government and that the MBA’s proposed State-ranking system will identify 200 deserving players to receive the 25 marks benefit.
“The aim is to get a property run by the MBA which does not even have an office,” said Mr. Lakhani, whose company Vishvaraj Infrastructure supports two talented players from Nagpur, Rasika Raje and Arundhati Pantawane.
The MBA has also decided to make four leading districts independent and bring down the subsidy to nil (from 20 per cent) in four years.
