Gangtok, Sikkim: The Badminton Association of Sikkim (BAS) is set to revolutionize the state’s badminton landscape, with President Jacob Khaling announcing a bold vision to nurture local talent from the grassroots level to national and international prominence, including the Olympics. Speaking at a press conference in Gangtok, Khaling, flanked by General Secretary Sukanta Das, Vice President Thendhup Bhutia, and Publicity Secretary Tsheering Sherpa, emphasized the growing global appeal of badminton and India’s impressive performance on the world stage. He highlighted the increasing interest in the sport among Sikkimese children and stressed the association’s responsibility to channel this burgeoning energy.
To kickstart this ambitious initiative, the BAS has unveiled the First Sikkim State Inter-School Badminton Championship 2025, a pioneering event spanning all six districts. This championship will feature two key categories: the Under-17 Team Championship for both boys and girls, and the Under-19 Individual Events. The team format will see schools compete in three singles and two doubles matches, while the individual category ensures talented players can participate even if their schools don’t field a full team. Khaling stated that this championship is merely the beginning, with a long-term goal of identifying promising young players and enrolling them in structured coaching programmes within their home districts starting from the 2026 academic year, with support from Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, the association’s chief patron. He added that selected children would also receive further coaching support, cash prizes, and tournament exposure to alleviate financial burdens, reiterating, “We do not want any talent to go unnoticed just because of money problems. If you know a child with potential, just send them to us. We will take care of everything.”
Highlighting the future roadmap, Khaling revealed plans for a dedicated Badminton Academy in Sikkim to provide structured, long-term development. The association also aims to send children for short-term and long-term coaching camps, including at premier institutions across India, proudly mentioning that “Some of our players are even receiving world-class vocal training in Mumbai.” General Secretary Sukanta Das elaborated on the detailed Annual Calendar of Events, announcing four major ranking tournaments commencing in July, covering categories from Under-11 to Under-19, as well as Senior Men’s and Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. August will see the 34th Sikkim State Badminton Championship, followed by the highly anticipated second edition of the Sikkim Premier Badminton League, tentatively scheduled for September–October. The BAS is also preparing a team for the North East Zonal Inter-State Badminton Championship in Tripura, an event held once every eight years. Das confirmed the association’s participation in all national-level tournaments as per the Badminton Association of India calendar, including the Mini, Sub-Junior, Junior, Senior, and Veterans Nationals. He further explained that Summer and Winter Coaching Camps would continue as part of talent grooming efforts, with technical staff undergoing training to stay updated with the latest global standards.
Vice President Thendhup Bhutia provided technical details for the Inter-School Championship, stating that district-level matches would take place on July 12th and 13th across all six districts, with winners and runners-up advancing to the state-level event on August 3rd and 4th. A key innovation this year is the direct involvement of schools, a significant shift from previous events that primarily catered to individual players and clubs. “This will make a huge difference in participation,” Bhutia emphasized. He added that while the Under-17 team championship focuses on group performance, the Under-19 singles event offers a platform for individual talents to shine even if their school teams don’t qualify. The BAS also plans to conduct separate ranking events for Men’s and Women’s categories in Pakyong, offering broader recognition. Bhutia underscored the importance of these rankings, explaining that players reaching the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals would be awarded points determining their state ranking and future selections. “We are building a full structure for the long term. This isn’t just about one tournament; it’s about creating a pipeline of badminton players who can represent Sikkim and India in the future,” he asserted. Jacob Khaling concluded with a fervent appeal to the public: “Please send your children to us if they have interest or talent in badminton. Even if you cannot afford coaching, we will support them. We believe, just like Sikkimese players reached the Olympics in archery, we will also see our badminton players on the Olympic stage someday.”
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