A badminton stadium of international standards has come up just behind the Kolkata Leather Complex (KLC) in Bantala of South 24- Parganas. Shuttle Express Badminton Stadium (SEBS) is spread over 56,000 sqft plot at Andulgori mouza in Tardah gram panchayat of Bhangar area.

An initiative of the Bengal Badminton Academy (BBA), it was inaugurated on Sunday aiming to produce young talents, who will represent the state as well as the country in coming days. While addressing in the inaugural programme of the stadium Sujit Bose, fire services minister, said, “Pullela Gopichand, badminton coach of P V Sindhu, had told me Bengal needs an international standard badminton stadium because it has so many young promising talents.

He, along with Sindhu, had visited our Sreebhumi Club Durga Puja a few years ago.” “I am glad to see the SEBS at Bantala where young talents will get proper trainings with all kinds of facilities required for badminton training,” the fire services minister said. Veteran ministers Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Arup Roy and newly-appointed director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar were also present on the occasion.

“The stadium, worth about Rs 3.5 crore, will cater to top-class training for young enthusiasts in badminton in the entire eastern India. This project offers an extensive infrastructure comprising eight world-class teak-wood courts in a 9,500 sqft indoor facility, residential accommodations like dormitories for about 40 boys and girls with separate toilets and dressing rooms, a large warm-up track, wellequipped kitchen and training ground,” said Subrata Gupta, additional chief secretary and a badminton enthusiast.

“We have plans to set up a contemporary fitness centre and a swimming pool to give all-round physical and mental fitness to the trainees. We purchased the land here after a 16-year effort. We are thankful to two central government and one state public sector companies for their financial support or setting up of the project. We have also got corporate sponsorships,” said Hirak Kanti Sengupta, managing trustee of the BBA.