ADBA gets warm response
| Date :12-Nov-2020 |
DOUBLE DELIGHT: It happened to be coach Ajay Dayal’s birthday on Monday, the day
when administration allowed badminton indoor practice. The players brought a cake for their mentor and celebrated his birthday on YMCA court.
Sports Reporter :
THOUGH some youngsters and their parents are sceptical about joining badminton training, Ajay Dayal Badminton Academy, run by ex-international player and current junior India team coach Ajay Dayal is getting a warm response. The main reason is Dayal, who is among city’s reputed badminton coaches, was always in touch with his wards.
“During the lockdown, I was conducting physical fitness and mental toughness programmes for my players. When the lockdown was relaxed in first phase but indoor activities still banned, I used to have warm-up sessions with all my players in different batches at St Ursula School ground. So, my players were physically and mentally ready for action. The efforts yielded positive results when the badminton halls were opened on Monday,” said Dayal while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ on Wednesday. Dayal, who trains at a couple of centres in the city, had his first batch started at YMCA’ Roberstson Hall in Civil Lines as soon as the lockdown was relaxed.
“I have started training my players at Robertson Hall as the Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur is not ready. Junior national champion Ritika Thaker and another international player Saurabh Kerhalkar have started practising along with about twenty players. Presently, I have got four-hour windows in morning and evening sessions,” said Dayal who completed OGQ Coaches Excellence Programme (CEP) last year and also cleared the SAI online examination conducted by NTA agency during the lockdown period.