Bokaro is all set to get international level badminton courts for the players here as two modern badminton courts are being constructed at the Sports Complex situated in Sector-4, with a huge investment by Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL).

There is already one badminton court in the Sports Complex, where the players practice every day. These two new courts are being set up apart from the existing one. Sports Complex is owned and maintained by BSL, a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The Sports Complex used to be a club earlier. About a decade ago the club was transformed into the Sports Complex where players, BSL officials and bureaucrats play badminton and other games.

With Bokaro being listed among the Global Active City, BSL will celebrate this year as a ‘Sports Year’ motivating everyone in the town to get themselves involved in sports activities to lead a healthy life. In this process, BSL is undertaking the development of sports facilities in the township. The construction of world-class badminton courts is almost 70 per cent completed.

Chief of communication, BSL, Manikant Dhan said, “Work related to the new indoor badminton courts in Sport Complex in the town is being done with a view to promote and encourage the activities related to sports. BSL is working hard to achieve the goal for a remarkable change for the betterment of sports which seems feasible to our conditions.”

The new indoor badminton courts are coming up with a dimension of 1320 square feet. “Teakwood planks is to be installed of size about 22 x 60 mm. Anti-termite treatment, laying of polythene paper, fixing of conical high induction cushion rubber (pads), line marking and installation of YONEX badminton mats is to be done,” informed Dhan.

Arun Kumar Behra, an officer in Bokaro Power Supply Company Limited (BPSCL), who is a badminton player, said, “At present, we have to either play doubles or wait hours for our turns as there was only one court in the Sports Complex. There are about two dozen players who come in the evening. All have to wait. We are very happy with the addition of two badminton courts as now we don’t have to wait and we can also play singles.”