KBSA introduces scholarship scheme for young shuttlers

The Kerala Badminton (Shuttle) Association has introduced a scholarship scheme for the singles winners and runners-up of its State championships in the under-13, 15, 17 and under-19 age groups.

Each player will receive an annual amount of Rs 24,000 which will be paid on a monthly basis as long as they are State champions in singles events in the above age groups.

This was decided at the KBSA executive committee meeting held in Kochi on Saturday.

“We are planning to start the scholarship in doubles too in future,” said R. Rakesh Sekhar, the KBSA secretary, on Monday.

The KBSA has also decided to run three zonal training centres, at Ernakulam, Karunagapally (Kollam) and Ottapalam (Palakkad) where promising players will be offered long-term coaching either at ‘no cost’ or on subsidised rates.