The Assam Badminton Association (ABA): A Hub for Hidden Talent and Excellence

Assam is home to some of the most promising badminton players in the country and this sport is one of the fastest developing sports in India. As one of the leading governing bodies for badminton in India, the Assam Badminton Association (ABA) has played a pivotal role in advancing the game, creating an environment of sportsmanship throughout the state, and since then, the association has been developing players, coaches, and officials.

When the whole of India knew about badminton; Assam was still recovering from the emerging love of basketball! Even football has shown enormous growth in the success of the state but badminton was not behind it; it too won the titles at national and international level.

History and Legacy

The Assam Badminton Association (ABA) was formed to make badminton development in the state and to assist players interested in rising to a higher level. With time, the association has come to play a critical role in nurturing badminton talent and giving rise to players who are represented by India at different stages.

Badminton was introduced in Assam in the mid-20th century AD. While badminton as a sport had already gained popularity in many corners of India, it took the state of Assam some more time to witness its success. The game was initially played at a recreational level in schools, clubs, and some urban areas like Guwahati, the state capital, where sports infrastructure was better developed.

The actual turning point was when the Assam Badminton Association (ABA) was formed. After badminton became quite popular in the state, this ABA was formed to formalize the structure of badminton at the state level, manage tournaments, and set paths for players from grassroots to national players. The ABA was dedicated to providing a structured format for the sport and had leagues across numerous districts in the states.

The establishment of the association served as a proper structure to hold training, competitions, and talent search. This is where they helped inspire a generation of young players from various backgrounds to take up badminton seriously.

Growth and Development in the 1980s and 1990s

The 1980s and 1990s were the period when badminton started growing in Assam, with better facilities and infrastructure. That was when the state began to see more establishment of local clubs and sports academies, which allowed younger players to be trained in a more professional environment. Several tournaments and championships were held, both at the district and state levels, which helped in scouting local talent and fostering competition.

While in this phase, almost around the same time, Assam also began conducting regional and state-level tournaments that enabled players to showcase their skills and experience a higher level of competition. During this time, participation in the sport increased amongst school and college students, enhancing general awareness and interest.

It was during the 1990s and early 2000s that some prominent players emerged from Assam, who later on shone the state’s name and India’s name in national championships. A great example is Dipankar Bhattacharjee who brought recognition to Assam’s growing badminton talent.

Objectives and Vision

The ABA aims to:

1. Promote Badminton: Encouraging participators from both rural and urban places to participate.
2. Discover Talent: Setting up a system of grassroots schemes to identify young talent.
3. Give Resources: Organizing coaching camps, giving all facilities to players like equipment and infrastructure.
4. Organize Competitions: Conducting district and state as well as national-level tournaments for experience.
5. Coach and Officials Development: Providing high-quality training for coaches and referees to maintain high levels of competition.

Famous Badminton Players from Assam

Assam has produced several talented badminton players who have made their mark nationally and internationally:

1. Ashmita Chaliha: Who said a woman can’t be powerful like a man? Ashmita Chaliha became the one that a woman can also shine the country’s and state’s name in international and national level tournaments. The power in her hands while stroking the shuttlecock seems like the wind from a cyclone! One of the popular international events she won the title was the South Asian Games.
2. Dipankar Bhattacharjee: The first badminton player from Assam was the popular Dipankar Bhattacharjee! He has played an incredible role by becoming a former national-level player, and a coach and now he even has his academy. He is one of the state’s precious gems who have shown amazing skills and techniques. To this date, he is an inspiration to all the new youth who are enthusiasts of playing badminton.

Key Achievements

• Development of Infrastructure: The ABA has continuously been setting up badminton courts in schools, clubs, and academies across the state.
• National Representation: Through well-trained training, the youth of the state has won several titles at the national level and the international level tournament.
• Grassroots Programs: Considering the grassroots-level participators, ABA has set camps to identify the hidden talents from every corner of the state.

Tournaments and Events

The ABA hosts several prestigious tournaments, including:

1. State Championships: A great platform for the new participators to showcase their skills.
2. Inter-District Competitions: Encouraging sportsmanship.
3. National and International Events: Giving exposure to the new players of the region.

Challenges and the Way Forward

This state was lagging behind every other state in the field of badminton and had no funding to provide resources like well-trained coaches and equipment. Slowly, this state saw extensive support from the ABA and other stakeholders and now the state is growing.

To this date, ABA is providing enormous support for the region’s players and is committed to making the state a powerhouse in Indian badminton.

Conclusion

When the whole of India knew about badminton; Assam was still recovering from the ‘Golden Era of Assam’ which was of course, it was football! Even cricket has shown enormous growth in the success of the state but badminton was not behind it; it too won the titles at national and international level.

Badminton was introduced in Assam in the mid-20th century AD. While badminton as a sport had already gained popularity in many corners of India, it took the state of Assam some more time to witness its success.