BAI President Announces ₹9.75 Crore Annual Plan to Boost Talent, Coaching & Prize Money for Indian Badminton Growth

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In a landmark move that underscores the Badminton Association of India’s (BAI) commitment to creating a robust, long-term structure for the sport, President Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday unveiled a comprehensive annual investment plan worth ₹9.75 crore aimed at revitalising grassroots programmes, empowering coaches, and rewarding India’s rising and elite shuttlers.

Announced during the Association’s Annual General Body Meeting in the capital, the plan is not just a financial boost but a strategic framework to identify and nurture the next generation of Indian badminton champions. This is the first time that any national sports federation in India has launched a structured, multi-tiered investment initiative on this scale.

“One NCE Was Never Going to Be Enough”

India’s ambitions to become a badminton superpower have seen steady progress over the last decade. But BAI has now taken a decisive step to institutionalise that growth with investments spread across talent development, coaching ecosystems, and international incentives.

The jewel in the crown remains the National Centre of Excellence (NCE) in Guwahati, a flagship initiative already shaping elite-level preparation. However, Dr Sarma was clear in acknowledging the geographical limitations of a single facility.

“But given the size of our country, one NCE was never going to be enough and hence we are providing grants to state associations to come up with development across the state and the current increase in grant will help them enhance their existing programs,”

To this end, the annual grant to state associations has been increased from ₹7.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. This increase, BAI believes, will spark localised development projects across India’s expansive sporting landscape.

Coaching the Coaches: A ₹73 Lakh Vote of Confidence

In a rare and much-needed gesture, BAI has set aside ₹73 lakh annually to retain top former Indian players—especially Olympians—as coaches. These individuals will now receive structured monthly remuneration: ₹1 lakh per month for Olympians and ₹50,000 for other coaches who have represented India and are actively engaged at national training camps.

This move is especially significant in a country where top-level athletes often face career uncertainties post-retirement. By bringing seasoned campaigners into the fold as mentors, the BAI is laying a strong human foundation for its ambitious plans.

Doubling Down on Domestic Tournaments

In what will bring smiles to hundreds of budding and semi-professional players across India, BAI has decided to double the prize money for all national ranking tournaments.

• Senior Ranking: ₹10 lakh (up from ₹5 lakh)
• U-19 Ranking: ₹8 lakh (up from ₹4 lakh)
• U-15/U-17 Ranking: ₹12 lakh (up from ₹6 lakh)
• U-13 Ranking: ₹6 lakh (up from ₹3 lakh)

To further incentivise hosting and participation, BAI will now provide organisers of senior and U-19 ranking tournaments with ₹2 lakh each, while U-15/U-17 event organisers will receive ₹3 lakh, and U-13 event organisers will get ₹1.5 lakh.

The total grant and prize pool for all National Championships has surged from ₹2.13 crore to ₹3.2 crore—a whopping 50%+ jump. The idea is simple: make domestic competitions more competitive, better funded, and more frequent.

Rewarding Glory on the Global Stage

In a sport where medals bring more than just glory, BAI’s fresh reward structure will boost player morale and competitiveness at the international level.

• BWF World Tour Super 1000 winner: ₹10 lakh
• World Championship Gold medallist: ₹20 lakh
• Junior World Championship Gold: ₹15 lakh
• Asian Junior Gold medallist: ₹10 lakh
• Senior Team Event Gold: ₹50 lakh
• Junior Team Gold: ₹30 lakh

This performance-linked model aims to bridge the gap between ambition and recognition—offering not just encouragement but tangible rewards to the best of India’s shuttlers.

Financial Planning Meets Passion for Growth

Dr Sarma highlighted that financial incentives must be at the heart of a modern sporting vision. Speaking about the steep increase in prize pools, he said:

“Looking after the needs of up-and-coming players, motivating them and providing them better financial incentives was critical for the development of the sport and chart out a pathway through which the future course.”

That pathway is now paved with both opportunity and intent. By aligning monetary value with merit, the BAI is setting a precedent for transparency, encouragement, and sustained excellence.

Comprehensive Investment in Every Corner of the Game

The full scale of the annual commitment is remarkable, with allocations thoughtfully carved out for every stakeholder:

• ₹3.8 crore towards total grants and prize pool for domestic tournaments
• ₹73 lakh for former Indian players-turned-coaches
• ₹2.22 crore for international performance incentives
• ₹3.2 crore across six categories of National Championships: from U-11 all the way up to the Veterans

The granular breakdown of allocations also reveals a strategic roadmap—rewarding experience (veterans and coaches), nurturing youth (U-11 to U-19), and supporting performance (national and international).

A Blueprint for the Future

With over ₹9.75 crore earmarked annually and a total investment commitment of more than ₹10 crore, the Badminton Association of India is laying out a gold-standard blueprint for a national sports federation.

This isn’t just an allocation of funds; it’s a philosophy in motion. By incentivising performance, retaining top-tier talent within the ecosystem, empowering local associations, and enriching grassroots engagement, the BAI is scripting a new chapter in Indian badminton.