Bollywood star Deepika Padukone makes BIG announcement on legendary father Prakash Padukone's 70th birthday, they will…
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone with her father Prakash Padukone. (Source: X)
The Padukone School of Badminton (PSB), founded and funded by Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone and mentored by former World No. 1 and All England Champion Prakash Padukone, has achieved a significant milestone by establishing over 75 grassroots coaching centres across 18 Indian cities – including Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Nashik, Mysuru, Panipat, Dehradun, Udaipur, Coimbatore, Sangli and Surat – within its first year of operations. Deepika made a major announcement on her legendary father Prakash Padukone's 70th birthday on Tuesday (June 10).
With its mission of 'Badminton for All', the PSB now aims to scale to 100 centres by the end of this year and 250 within the next three years.
Deepika Padukone, Founder of PSB, said: 'As someone who grew up playing badminton, I've experienced firsthand how much this sport can shape one's life – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through PSB, I hope we can bring the joy and discipline of badminton to people from all walks of life, and build a generation that is healthier, more focused, and inspired by sport.'
Happy 70th birthday Prakash Padukone. Thank you for everything you have done for Indian Sport. The word legend is used far too often and sometimes frivolously these days but for you, that word is simply not enough, as a player and as a person. pic.twitter.com/jPOb1jq067
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) June 10, 2025
Prakash Padukone, PSB's Mentor and Advisor, said: 'Sport is an integral part of growing up – it instills discipline, resilience, and a winning mindset that extends well beyond the court. With PSB, our goal is to make quality coaching accessible and affordable, nurture talent from the grassroots, and set a strong foundation for the future of Indian badminton.'
PSB's vision is to democratize access to quality and affordable badminton coaching, providing opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels. Through its standardized, scalable coaching methodology, developed under the guidance of Prakash Padukone, the organization seeks to introduce a nationwide community of school children and working professionals to the sport. It also aims to empower aspiring coaches with certified training and sustainable career paths.
PSB partners with schools, institutions, and existing venues to set up grassroots academies that feed into its flagship Training Program at the 3 High-Performance Centres of Excellence in Bengaluru. With over 100 coaches trained under a structured certification program and access to cutting-edge facilities, PSB's coaching system ensures consistency, quality, and the ability to identify and nurture future champions.
Prakash Padukone is a 1983 Badminton World Championships bronze medallist and became the first Indian shuttler to win the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships in 1980. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1982 and had won the Arjuna Award back in 1972.
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