Khaleej Times

Dubai-based Sakshi to train at Gopichand’s academy

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dubai — Dubai-based Sakshi Prakash has won a full-time residentia­l training for two years at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad.

She is among seven under-12 players selected for training from thousands of entries from across the India and other countries.

The selected young players had to undergo rigorous two-week training during the summer and winter vacations respective­ly at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. During this four-week tenure, Pullela Gopichand and his team of coaches evaluated the kids on the basis of their performanc­e, fitness, attitude, agility, and footwork. Based on this assessment, the children have now been offered the opportunit­y to undergo full-time residentia­l training at the Academy for a period of two years.

During the two-year programme, Pullela Gopichand and his team of coaches will work with the kids to improve different aspects of their game and to help them master new skills and techniques.

While at the Academy, the kids will also be able to observe and interact with the country’s top national and internatio­nal players which will further motivate and inspire them.

IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence Young Champs 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.

In the initial round, over a thousand video entries were received from across India, as well as from Indians settled abroad in countries including the UAE. Out of these, 26 kids were selected for a day-long intensive evaluation before the list was prunned to14, who went through a four-week training evalution before the final seven were picked.

 ?? Supplied photo ?? sakshi Prakash (right) with the other six selected players. —
Supplied photo sakshi Prakash (right) with the other six selected players. —

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