Bengaluru, September 12: The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has picked Prakash Padukone as the recepient for its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.
The legendary player, who is the only Indian male player to top the world rankings, will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a citation at a function to be held in New Delhi later.
"Every year, the BAI will honour a person who has contributed immensely to the sport. And at our core committee meeting, we have chosen Prakash Padukone for our first-ever lifetime achievement award," BAI President Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The award is part of BAI's new initiative to honour the greats of the game who have made rich contributions to the cause of the sport in the country.
For his immense contribution to the sport, Prakash Padukone will receive Badminton Association of India's first lifetime achievement award. pic.twitter.com/NQuMcY0kej
— BAI Media (@BAI_Media) September 12, 2017
BAI has also decided to start its own national centres in the five zones around the country while also enhancing the prize money at the Nationals, which has been struggling to get sponsors as most of the stars give it a miss.