Deepika Padukone’s Padukone School of Badminton Hits 75 Centres in One Year, Eyes 250 by 2027
Mumbai, June 10 (The Trending People): In a powerful display of her commitment to grassroots sports development, Bollywood star and former national-level badminton player Deepika Padukone announced that her initiative, the Padukone School of Badminton (PSB), has successfully set up 75 coaching centres across 18 Indian cities in just one year. The announcement comes with an ambitious roadmap: 100 centres by end of 2025 and 250 by 2027, reaching children and sports enthusiasts from all walks of life.
The actress shared the update in an emotional Instagram post featuring her father, Prakash Padukone, one of India’s legendary badminton icons and a former World No. 1 and All England Champion, who is also the chief mentor of the academy.
“Badminton Has Shaped My Life”: Deepika Padukone
Reflecting on her personal journey with the sport, Deepika wrote on Instagram:
“As someone who grew up playing badminton, I’ve experienced firsthand how much this sport can shape one’s life – physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
She emphasized that the Padukone School of Badminton is more than a training centre—it’s a movement to inspire a new generation.
“Through PSB, we hope to bring the joy and discipline of badminton to people from all walks of life, and build a generation that is healthier, more focused, and inspired by sport,” she added.
A Vision of “Badminton for All”
The Padukone School of Badminton, launched in 2023, is co-founded and funded by Deepika Padukone. It operates under the guiding principle of “Badminton for All,” aiming to democratize access to high-quality, affordable coaching in India—a country with a growing love for the sport but limited structured opportunities at the grassroots level.
Key Milestones in PSB’s First Year:
Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Nashik, Mysuru, Panipat, Dehradun, Udaipur, Coimbatore, Sangli, Surat
- 100+ trained coaches under a structured certification program
- 3 High-Performance Centres of Excellence in Bengaluru
- Partnership model with schools, institutions, and existing venues for academy setup
Bringing Structure and Scale to Coaching
At the core of PSB’s growth strategy lies its standardized and scalable coaching methodology, developed under the mentorship of Prakash Padukone himself. This structured system is designed to ensure consistent training quality, enable early talent identification, and support career pathways for aspiring coaches.
The Academy’s Key Objectives:
- Introduce badminton to school children and working professionals
- Offer standardized coaching from beginner to advanced levels
- Train and certify coaches with sustainable career development
- Feed top talent into PSB’s flagship high-performance centres
- Promote inclusivity and accessibility across regions
From Grassroots to Excellence: A Two-Tier Model
The grassroots academies act as the foundation, making badminton accessible across cities and towns. These local centres feed promising players into the High-Performance Centres in Bengaluru, which provide advanced coaching, fitness training, and sports science support.
This two-tier model is structured to not only increase participation but also elevate India’s global standing in badminton over the next decade by developing world-class athletes from the ground up.
Why This Matters: A Broader Shift in Indian Sports
Deepika Padukone’s commitment reflects a larger trend in India: private-public partnerships and celebrity-led initiatives are playing a significant role in strengthening the country’s sports ecosystem. As India continues to rise as a sporting nation beyond cricket, initiatives like PSB are crucial in:
- Encouraging youth participation in Olympic sports
- Addressing the coaching and infrastructure gap
- Promoting physical and mental well-being through sport
According to sports development experts, India’s badminton success at the international level—from P.V. Sindhu to Lakshya Sen—must be matched with systematic grassroots outreach, which PSB now exemplifies.
Reader Takeaway
The Padukone School of Badminton is not merely a celebrity initiative but a national movement in the making. With 75 centres established in just a year, the academy is on track to become one of India’s largest grassroots sports ecosystems. As Deepika Padukone combines her celebrity influence with sports leadership and her father’s legacy, the focus is now on ensuring that every Indian child and adult has the opportunity to pick up a racket, fall in love with the sport, and maybe even dream of representing India one day.
About the Padukone School of Badminton (PSB)
- Founded: 2023
- Founders: Deepika Padukone
- Mentor: Prakash Padukone
- Mission: Badminton for All
- Operational Cities: 18 and expanding
- Coaching Centres: 75 (goal: 250 by 2027)
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