PUNE, JUNE 28: Eventhough speculations are rife about whether the Badminton Association of Indian (BAI) can live up to expectations, as it has in the past three years, without its father figure Prakash Padukone, BAI general secretary SS Mani talks ambitiously.Assuring that, ``Prakash has expressed his willingness to help when ever needed,'' Mani, in a telephonic conversation from Bangalore, informed that BAI are hoping to recruit a foreign coach by the end of this year.``We are trying to rope in the services of an Indonesian though I would say the issue is still in negotiation stage.'' Mani informed, ``Language restraints have forced us to think otherwise this time,'' as to why an Indonesian and not a Chinese - as has been the case in the past - was short-listed.DOUBLES CAMP: Mani elaborated the BAI's exclusive doubles camp, in all likelihood, would get functional in September.Spilling details, Mani explained the camp will figure only the top six pairs of the country - the selections will be based on their performances in national and international tournaments. The aim: ``We are targeting the 2002 Commonwealth Games as our first test.''An Indian ex-international, ``not decided yet,'' would be in-charge of the camp along with the foreign coach at the Sports Authority of Indian (SAI) centre at Bangalore. ``The Indonesian coach would have a dual purpose - being good in doubles and being equivocal with English,'' Mani explained.NORTH-EAST ACADEMY: On the badminton academy for players from the North-East in Guwahati, Mani informed, ``All seemed to go as per plan but then suddenly, there is no word from Oil India Limited - the ones who agreed to take up the project.''``The academy was to be inaugurated by January 31 but I am told that some paper work still remains,'' expressed Mani. ``We (BAI) are giving them an ultimatum to either give a green signal by June 30 or call off the project. At least we could short-list the talented players for whom the academy was for, keeping in view their potential, and bring them to Bangalore for training.''POTENTIAL SPONSOR: Junior shuttlers of the country are in for a treat, with Mani informing negotiations are on with a bank to sponsor six all-India tournaments in the coming season. ``I have submitted a proposal of six tourneys with a cash award of Rs 2 lakh each to which they are working on it and hopefully expect a decision by the end of July 2000,'' Mani confidently informed.
