Bhoomi Pujan for a Badminton High-Performance Centre was performed at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar today, in the presence of officials from Department of Sports and Youth Services, Odisha. This was informed through press release by a PR Agency.

Aimed at promoting badminton and making India a powerhouse in the sport at the global level, Government of Odisha, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, a leading Indian cement major and subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Group and Chief National Coach for
Indian Badminton, Padma Bhushan Pullela Gopichand have come together to set up this High Performance Centre at Kalinga Stadium campus.

Surprisingly, the bhoomi pujan ceremony turned out to be secret event as no prior information was given to the media. Identities of officials involved in the pooja on behalf of Dalmia Bharat Group and DSYS were not revealed. People present at the pooja site also did not wear face masks, thus making a mockery of the COVID-19 guidelines.

According to the press release, with an investment of Rs 45 crore, the 8-court HPC will be equipped with all latest sports amenities and facilities. There will be boarding and lodging facility for 20 male, 20 female players and 8 coaches. Further, with a sitting capacity of about 500 spectators, the centre will be capable of hosting both national and international events in the future.

The release quoted a company official saying, “Under Shri Gopichand’s leadership, the academy will create and nurture players who can represent India, bring in accolades and make us a proud nation.”

The concrete structure of the iconic academy building will be built like the base of a shuttle cock and placed on a glass cylinder, which gives the floating cork effect. This will eventually resemble a full shuttlecock in the evening when the sky projected special lights illumination comes in full grandeur, the release said.

M/s SPD Construction has been appointed by Dalmia Cement to undertake the civil construction work. The architecture masterpiece will be designed by Archohm Consults Pvt Ltd. And once complete, it will go long way in enhancing the sports heritage of Odisha, the release added. But the release carried no information about date of completion of the construction work and start of functioning of the HPC.
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PHOTO: Unidentified people perform Bhoomi Pujan for Badminton HPC at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on 2 August, 2020.