FNCC–Pullela Gopichand Initiative to Promote Badminton Among Youth

The announcement event of the Pullela Gopichand Badminton League was held with great enthusiasm today at the Filmnagar Cultural Center (FNCC). The league is scheduled to commence on the 4th and 5th of this month and will be conducted over the next four to five weeks on weekends, specifically Saturdays and Sundays. Top 10 men and women badminton players from across the country are set to participate in this league. Speaking on the occasion, FNCC President K.S. Rama Rao stated that the league is being launched with the initiative of Telangana Badminton Association Vice President Chamundeswarinath and FNCC Badminton Committee Chairman Purushottam. He emphasized that the tournament aims to encourage youth to take up sports beyond cricket and explore other disciplines like badminton.

FNCC Badminton Committee Chairman Purushottam expressed his Happiness over the launch of the league and mentioned that although Pullela Gopichand could not attend the event, he is expected to be present at the upcoming program. He noted that it had been several years since a tournament was organized at the club and based on members’ suggestions, they plan to conduct club-level, inter-club and eventually national-level tournaments. He also thanked the President, Secretary and Chamundeswarinath for their support in organizing the league. Chamundeswarinath, Vice President of the Telangana Badminton Association, stated that top players from across the country will participate and each team will contribute ₹10 lakh, which will be utilized as prize money for the winners.

Film Nagar Society Secretary Kaja Suryanarayana highlighted that FNCC is not just a club but a hub for cultural and sporting activities. He credited Chamundeswarinath for transforming the sports complex and bringing renowned sportspersons from across the country. FNCC Secretary Thummala Ranga Rao mentioned that discussions regarding the tournament had been ongoing for the past few months and that it is being successfully organized with the support of the committee. Member Somaraju added that FNCC stands out among clubs for hosting multiple sporting events and recalled that prominent personalities like Sania Mirza, Leander Paes and Pullela Gopichand have been associated with the venue. The event was attended by Vice President S.N. Reddy, Treasurer Shailaja Jujjalla and committee members Venu, Yedida Raja, Koganti Bhavani, among others.