The Badminton Association of India is open to letting the India Open Grand Prix Gold move to Bangalore from Hyderabad. The event, which has been held the last two years in Hyderabad, is the country’s premier badminton event and has attracted some of the world’s best players, including Taufik Hidayat, Lee Chong Wei, Lu Lan, Zhou Mi and others.
Speaking to DNA on the sidelines of the Junior National Badminton Championships, BAI’s joint secretary Punnaiah Choudary said Bangalore would be an ideal venue for an event of this stature, and the Karnataka Badminton Association (KBA) could play host if they could cough up around Rs 70 lakh. The total budget is estimated at around Rs 1.4 crore, of which the title sponsors will pay the prize money of Rs 65 lakh.
“We are looking for an alternate venue,” Choudary, who is also tournament director for the India Open, said. “If nobody expresses interest, Hyderabad will be ready to host it. But we would like to see the event in Bangalore. With Prakash (Padukone) there, the organizers should be able to generate the required sponsorship and public attention.”
Most of the international action in India shifted to Hyderabad after the construction of the Gachibowli Stadium. Over the last five years, the AP city has hosted the Asian Satellite, the Asian Badminton Championships, two editions of the India Open, and the World Championships.
Bangalore has hosted an Asian Satellite event at the K Raheja Stadium, which is better suited as a training facility. A fitter venue would be the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, which is being renovated for the IWAS (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation) Games from Nov 22 to Dec 2.
KBA Secretary NC Sudhir conceded the attractions of offering to host the India Open, but said the association had yet to meet on the issue . “We will call a meeting of the development committee and consider the possibility. Of course, we will first have to check with Prakash Padukone. We can only raise this kind of money with his help. Also, the venue would have to be an air-conditioned facility.”
