Bhubaneswar: A High Performance Centre for Badminton will be set up on Kalinga Stadium premises in Odisha capital by Pullela Gopichand Badminton Foundation (PGBF) with support from Dalmia Cements Bharat Limited.

The company will provide Rs 30 crore to the foundation through CSR initiative for establishment of the badminton academy for promoting the sport in the state, official sources said.

A comprehensive presentation on the vision, design and roadmap for setting up a world class badminton academy was made before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Lok Seva Bhawan here, today.

Construction of the centre will start by December, 2019 and will be completely ready by December, 2020. The badminton academy will start functioning at the High Performance Centre from December, 2020. The academy will offer world class training and coaching facility under the direct supervision and guidance of legendary badminton player and coach Pullela Gopichand.

Appreciating the efforts, the Chief Minister said, "With the vision of Gopichand and support of Dalmia Bharat, I am sure that the High Performance Centre will be one of the international standard training centres of our country. The State Government has provided three acres of land for the centre. The State Government is also constructing a multi-purpose Indoor Hall inside Kalinga Stadium campus which will be ready by February, 2020, where the High Performance Centre can start functioning immediately. Promotion of sports by industrial houses is a winning combination. My Government will always encourage such initiatives for the cause of sports in Odisha."

PGBF founder Pullela Gopichand, Chief Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy, Sports Department Principal Secretary Vishal Deb and Dalmia Cement MD Puneet Dalmia were present on the occasion.