Shuttling at Bhubaneswar was not uncommon but mostly a seasonal activity except for some indoor avenues at Utkal University and OUAT. The Badminton mongers had to seek their interest with a lot of competition and difficulty. As a matter of fact their patience to continue with the game almost died down before they could achieve prominence. Similar was the situation elsewhere in the state. On the contrary, Cuttack used to be hub for almost every sport harbouring excellence in one form or the other.  

During the eighties, country’s failure to achieve an Olympic Gold brought in a general consensus to invest more in sports. The very laudable initiative prompted Sports Authority of India to create sporting facilities in large numbers across the country to nurture sports & games. The establishment of a Gymnasium at Unit-1 was one of such initiatives. The relentless persuasions of the senior badminton players with the Directorate of sports could help to convert the Gymnasium under construction to an Indoor Hall which could enable playing badminton all the year round and nurture talented players to represent the state and make the state proud.

The Indoor Hall was a boon for the indoor game players. Though it houses only one Badminton court, both badminton and table tennis players used the playing arena turn by turn. Now, the Indoor Hall is used all the year round irrespective of seasons. Players from different corners of Bhubaneswar city are able to practice regularly. The facility has proved its worth by nurturing many of the players, who have become state champions and represented the state at National level.  

Getting together for play and practice every evening brought us together to become a family. The association matured with time in the cradle of Senior Players. Not only we thought and discussed our personal progress in the arena but also promoting the game of badminton. The prime objective of taking this game in the city to a new height inspired all of us forming a group. We worked together in converting the Indoor Hall flooring to a wooden court during 1993 facing many hurdles which brought us ever closer. Late Sri Nalini Kanta Mohanty, Ex-Hon’ble Minister, Works was the most vibrant link taking us together inspiring us all the way in working for the game. Being a able leader himself he lead us out of the hassles and was instrumental in prompting us to register the association, thus “ Amateur Badminton Club (ABC)’ came into being with around pan 18 founder members. Sri Sailendra Mohanty was unanimously elected as the founder President of ABC, Sri Bibekananda Mishra as Vice President, Sri Chandi Prasad Das as General Secretary and Sri Pradeep Kumar Jena as Treasurer.

The motto of ABC is “To promote Badminton in the State through partnership and progressive participation”.

Our vision is “To nurture the game of badminton and create an enabling environment for producing world class players making the nation and the state proud”.

Our Achievements

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ABC has been promoting badminton and nurturing the players since its inception. It has conducted around six State Level Open Ranking Badminton Tournaments comprising of all categories of events including the latest two Nalinikanta Mohanty Memorial Open Badminton Tournaments (2013 & 2014) in a series and one State Badminton Championship. The tournaments conducted by ABC has become very popular and appreciated by Players and badminton lovers in every nook and corner of the State. The winners of different categories and upcoming talents are handsomely rewarded.   The Odisha State Badminton Association has been supporting our endeavour and has lauded the efforts put in by the members. The incessant efforts put in by The Club has been instrumental in evolving of many state level players in different categories of events. Some of the members have found place in the state squad for Nationals. Even the members have bagged prizes in different categories and upgraded their seeding upwards making ABC proud. More so, the Club has produced the only qualified badminton coach, Sri Manoj Kumar Sabat, who is currently working under the sports Directorate. He has successfully reared majority of the badminton players today. Not only that, he has been a proud manager of the Indian Badminton Contingent in a number of occasions. We pledge to continue supporting the development of the game and brotherhood amongst the players. The ABC aspires to indulge in various other related activities to take badminton to greater heights.

-Dr. Akshay Kumar Sahu

Treasurer, ABC 

(email-akshaysahu1083@gmail.com)