Bengaluru has historically been known as a badminton stronghold for several decades now. It has been the proud home to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA) which has groomed several champions at all levels. One only needs to visit Lalbagh or Cubbon Park in the mornings to see several of Bangalore’s citizens engaged in casual but keenly contested badminton encounters.
A badminton club in the city. Pic: Dharmendra D
Where can you play?
There are a number of private and public facilities in the city catering to badminton players of various age groups. Both casual and competitive players can find a space that is suitable. PPBA caters to Under-18 players and is sponsored by the TATA Capital. In addition there are other organisations that cater to badminton enthusiasts.
- The Karnataka Badminton Association in Vasant Nagar which has 10 courts (in addition to other sports facilities such as a swimming pool, etc,.) houses the PPBA on five courts and has five other courts for its members and other users.
- Sports Authority of India Centre, near Bangalore University, also serves as the badminton centre for the diploma course in sports coaching from the National Institute of Sports.
- Badminton courts at the National Games Village in Koramangala.
- The White Peacock Badminton Academy in Vasant Nagar.
- Hennur Banaswadi Cosmopolitan Club (HBCC).
- The Bangalore City Institute (a traditional badminton powerhouse) on KR Road, near Chamrajpet.
- Gurukul Sports Academy at Marathahalli.
There are a host of other clubs and institutions such as the Canara Union in Malleshwaram, the Koramangala Club, the Indiranagar Club, the Domlur Club, the KSCA, the Reliance Club, the Woodrose Club and others, all of which have badminton courts and coaches. Some of these have “pay as you play” options while others provide access to guests of members only. Quite a large number of coaches at these institutions are either former players or those who have taken players to the top levels in badminton.
While some coaches as well as academies work only with talent they have carefully scouted over a period of time, there are others who are willing to coach beginners as well. This is especially encouraging to adults who want to take up badminton, having never tried it before. In fact, some coaches not only work with those with proven capabilities and with a history of success at junior levels, but also those who need one-on-one attention. This would be of interest to serious players with competitive intent, outside of the juniors’ circuit.
Today even residential complexes, large companies and educational institutions host badminton courts.
What does it cost to play Badminton seriously?
While the courts may charge anywhere from Rs 50 and above for the use of a court for an hour, the primary recurring expense for any badminton player is the shuttle. A single shuttle costs between Rs 40-Rs 100 and may sometimes not even last beyond a single game.
Thus players end up using over three or four shuttles in the course of a single day’s practice. A typical player may use up to three-four racquets a year and these cost around three thousand rupees per racquet. The shoes cost about five thousand rupees a pair which provide the much-needed footing on the wooden courts/synthetic surfaces. One may need as many as half a dozen pairs a year if you are a competitive player.
Coaching costs can vary from Rs 1500-2500 or more a month depending on whether you are a child or an adult. The number also varies from coach to coach. Add these up and a typical badminton player is looking at spending nearly Rs 1.5 lakh or more a year.
Sponsors and government support
While sponsors step in to help out private academies such as the PPBA, the government has also played its part. Government has provided land for facilities, built facilities such as the National Games Village, subsidising the cost of the imported surfaces (which are rolled over the wooden courts) as well as other grants and awards to both individual players and institutions. For successful competitive players, jobs with public sector companies especially the oil marketing companies, also provide valuable financial support.
One of the heartening insights derived from talking to people-in-the-know on badminton in India, is that badminton seems rather well supported especially over the last decade. Although Hyderabad seems to have stolen a march on Bangalore in the last decade, thanks to the excellent badminton infrastructure which came up to support the National Games and other events. Badminton in India seems to have been well supported by both public and private institutions across the country, which can’t be said for too many other sports in the country.
The key issue that dogs the sport seems to be the alarming dip in participation from competitive junior players especially the moment they reach the class IX or class XII or II PUC as the case may be due to the pressure of board exams. While that may not be an issue unique to badminton, surely it is something that needs looking into if Indian badminton has to assume a position of global dominance.
|
Sl. No |
Name of organization |
Open to Public |
Timings |
Fees |
Comments |
|
1 |
Karnataka Badminton Association (KBA) No.4, Jasma Bhavan Road, Vasantha Nagar, Miller Tank Bed Area, Ph: +91 80 42788888 Fax: +91 80 22254756 Email id : info@kba.org.in |
Yes |
10am to 5 pm |
Rs 396/hr/court |
Bookings need to be made in advance since KBA’s courts are usually booked well in advance |
|
2 |
Sports Authority of India (SAI) Adjacent to Bangalore University, Mysore Road |
No. However, case-specific access is provided to youngsters |
N.A. |
See comments |
Contact Suresh who is in charge of monitoring and arenas for further details |
|
3 |
Builders Club @ National Games Village, Koramangala, Ph: 080-25702247/48 |
Yes. Guest Access only in the morning. Open to members in the evening |
6am to 9 am |
Rs. 70/person/hour |
|
|
4 |
White Peacock Sports Private Limited 1A, 2nd Floor, 1st Main Road Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore 560 052 Email. care@whitepeacock.info Phone +91 (0)80 4157 3227 between 9am and 6pm Mobile +91 (0)98807 89692 |
N.A. WPSPL rents out facilities for each of its centres across Bangalore and Mandya including at the KBA & other clubs |
9am and 6pm |
N.A. |
WPSPL rents out facilities for each of its centres across Bangalore and Mandya including at the KBA & other clubs |
|
5 |
Hennur Banaswadi Cosmopolitan Club (HBCC) No CA-7, 7th Main Road, 80 Feet Road, 2nd Block, HRBR Layout, Kalyana Nagar, Ph: 080-25452221 |
Yes |
5am to 10:30pm |
Rs 100/person/hour
Quarterly membership is available at Rs. 675/month for mn and Rs 455/month for women with Rs. 500 as registration charges |
Contact Manjunath – 78992 28412 for badminton facilities Typically only 10am-12pm slot is available as all other slots are booked well in advance |
|
6 |
The Bangalore City Institute 5th Main, KR Road, Chamarajpet, Ph: 2667 8472 |
No, open to Members although a three month guest membership is available |
6-10am 6-9am |
Rs 85/day/person for one-time use
Rs 2810/3 months guest membership |
Contact Narsimhan – 99019 43596 for further details |
|
7 |
Gurukul Sports Academy Kundanahalli Gate Whitefield Main Road
Ph: 080 32429671 |
Yes |
6am to 10am |
Rs 200/court/hour |
|
|
8 |
Canara Union New #42, 8th Main Road Malleswaram, Landmark: Near Bus Stop Ph: 080-23317980 |
No, open to members only |
7am to 8am 8pm to 9pm |
Rs 1000 non-refundable charge plus Rs 750 per quarter |
Currently, long waiting list for aspiring members |
|
9 |
Koramangala Club CA-17, 6th Cross, 6th Block, Koramangala,
Ph: 42679000 |
Guest Access only through members |
6:30 am to 11 am 6-9:30pm |
Rs 140/person/hour or Rs 2000/month |
|
|
10 |
Indiranagar Club 9th Main, 4th Cross, Indiranagar 2nd Stage Bangalore 560 008. Ph: 2528 0323 |
No, open to members only |
6am to 8:30pm |
Badminton Court fee charges are Rs 300/month for members |
Club membership is around Rs 10 lakh and is available immediately upon payment |
|
11 |
Domlur Club #3, 4 Main Road, Domlur 2nd Stage Ph: 080-2535 0556 |
No, open to members only |
6am-9am 6pm-8:30 pm |
Rs 60/hour/person |
Contact Gajendran – 90357 27241 for badminton related queries and the club office for any membership related queries Membership charges are around Rs 4 lakh and aspiring members need to contact the club office for membership related queries |
|
12 |
Woodrose Club Brigade Millennium Campus, 7th Phase, J. P. Nagar Ph: 080-41995999 |
No, Open to members only |
6am to 1pm 4 pm to 9 pm |
No specific charges for badminton. 3 categories of membership. See comments for details |
3 categories based on duration (non refundable fee + taxes) – 3 yrs, (Rs 1.5 lakh) 5 yrs (Rs 2.25 lakh), 15 yrs (Rs 4.5 lakh) |
Acknowledgments:
Balachandran, fitness trainer at the PPBA, Dev Sukumar, freelance journalist and expert writer on badminton.⊕
Hi,
I have recently moved to Bangalore. Currently I stay at Kudlu gate. Can you guide me which one will be the closest badminton court for me?
thanks,
anuj
09880742090
This is one most well researched articles about Badminton facilities in Bangalore. Thanks a lot for the information Dharmendra.
Hi, I am staying in Singasandra, Bangalore. Could you please let me know if there are any indoor badminton courts nearby and their charges.
Thanks
Manoj–>09620442727
Hi, there is new indoor court opened in C.V.Raman Nagar…Acti Sports Arena
29th C cross, Balaji Layout, Opp. to Narayana School,
Kaggadasapura, C.V.Raman Nagar Post
Bangalore – 560093, Phone: 96323 88220
Hi all,
I stay in Kormangala 4th block and am keen to play Badminton. I have checked certain places(kormangala club) but it seems they allow only members to play there and the membership fee is too high. Can an one help me with the nearest place to play.( 9008970662, meetpthk@gmail.com)
Hi, here one average player seeking for some indoor court, Near ITI layout.
please upadte.
Feather Touch Sports Arena is an upcoming facility with indoor synthetic surface badminton courts. Located in JP Nagar 7th phase near Sobha Tulip and Brigade Palm Springs apartments! Check out http://www.feathertouchsports.com. Courts will be operational around May 2014 2nd week.
where can i play badminton in koramangala without paying exhorbitant membership fees,am 21 and i wud like to know whther i can try in any camp too,am fine with 1000-1500 /month
Hi,
I am looking for a partner to play badminton on weekends in the morning 6-9 AM @ Builders Club, NGV.
Please do contact me to my email id: jdksom152@gmail.com
Any indoor badminton courts near RT Nagar (other than patel’s inn). Please post here or mail me at sabarisk2005@gmail.com
You can check out Feather Touch Sports Arena in JP Nagar, Bangalore.
http://www.feathertouchsports.com
feathertouchsports@gmail.com
080-42127332
5 Indoor Badminton Courts (Synthetic courts)
Any indoor badminton courts in HSR Layout. Please post here or mail me at kotarikirankumar@hotmail.com
Any Indoor Badminton Court near E-City?.
(Hosa Road, kudlu gate , E City)
Hey!
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Hello,
I am looking for a referee to officiate a badminton tournament.
Could anyone me with it.
Thanks and Regards,
Avinash
9738886836
Hi,
Can anyone suggest me a court in or near electronic city/Hosa road or even Sarjapur road..area ?
Thanks in Advance
Hi
Please find the below sports academy in Electronic city main road Land mark ( Konnappana Agrahara busstop)
SMASH SPORTS ACADEMY
G.S Palya Main Road, Konappana Agrahara ,
E-City, Bangalore – 560100
Contact : +91 9980244115 / 9739596663 / 8951233226
Website : http://www.smashsportz.com
EMail : enquiry@smashsportz.com
Our club is slated to start from Sep 2015. Its located in Electronic city phase-1, and is just traffic free distance of 1.4 km from Ajmera infinity. Our flooring is approved by BWF and is having many facilities such as separate warm-up room, plenty parking space,rest room which includes shower room and dressing room.Visit our site for more information http://www.justplay.club
Hi, I am interested to join Badminton club/group and am staying in Girinagar. Can anyone guide me to find any nearby places?
Hi, m also new to hsr layout and want to play badminton on weekdays after my office. So please let me know any club or place where i can get a partner as well to play with at economical price..abhishek.. 9711557758
Hey, spyn app helps in locating badminton players, places, courts, coaches nearby. May badminton players are scheduling thier games on spyn. http://i.spyn.co/m/AcMjugAqoq
Hi, Am recently moved to Bangalore kindly help me to find a swimming pool and badminton (open to public) near to hebbal location. 9900969733.