Hansraj Stadium to launch four sports courts

In a significant boost for sport enthusiasts, Raizada Hansraj Stadium in Jalandhar, which already houses six synthetic badminton courts, is set to inaugurate four new outdoor multi-purpose courts on August 8.

The new courts are equipped with floodlights, allowing players to engage in games like badminton, pickle ball, or any other racket sport even after dark. Enclosed with nets on all sides for safety and focused play, these courts also feature a running, walking and warming-up path that is being prepared for the players’ use. The District Badminton Association (DBA) is also planning to install a milk booth or kiosk near the courts to provide refreshments for athletes.

Sharing details of the development, Honorary Secretary of the Punjab Badminton Association and DBA Jalandhar, Ritin Khanna, said, “The four new courts have been set up at a cost of Rs 25 lakh from the district association’s own funds. The stadium gets 150 youngsters and 400 adult players for practice on a daily basis. I can proudly say that the Jalandhar stadium is the best one in entire Punjab. We have already been hosting state-level and north zone badminton championships here. With infrastructural improvements being made at a steady pace, I intend to make it suitable for hosting even the national-level championships in the next few years.”

Khanna, a former national player himself, brings a deep understanding of the game and the ecosystem required to groom shuttlers. His athlete-centric vision has brought a new focus to the association’s functioning since 2021 when he took over from the previous association led by local businessmen. With first-hand experience as a player, he has been working to ensure that shuttlers receive professional coaching and the environment needed to excel in the sport.

Over the past five years, more than Rs 1 crore has been invested in the development of the stadium. Notably, the Olympian Dipankar Badminton Academy—the first of its kind in Punjab—was opened at the stadium. Dipankar Bhattacharjee remains the only Indian male shuttler to have represented India in two Olympic Games, in 1992 and 1996. His legacy continues to inspire young players training at the facility.

The association has successfully managed to mobilise grants from various quarters to develop the stadium. A grant of Rs 15 lakh was secured from Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Gujral for the installation of five new BWF-approved Yonex synthetic courts. Renovations were also undertaken to upgrade the stadium’s roof, washrooms and water facilities. A separate grant of Rs 5 lakh provided by former Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana KP was utilised to establish a yoga and aerobics centre, which now operates daily and caters to participants of all age groups.

Former cricketer and Member of Parliament Harbhajan Singh also contributed Rs 15.6 lakh from MPLADS funds for international-standard gym equipment, now available for players at the stadium. Additionally, a physiotherapy centre has been set up to help athletes recover from injuries and maintain their physical well-being.

The DBA further secured Rs 23.16 lakh in funding from ex-Sports Minister Punjab, Gurmeet S Meet Hayer, for key infrastructural upgrades. These included the construction of the sixth synthetic court, renovation of hostel rooms, and expansion of the gymnasium block.

A canteen-cum-restaurant offering hygienic and nutritious food was developed with grants of Rs 10 lakh from MLA Rajinder Beri and Rs 4.81 lakh from former Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori. Another distinctive feature of the stadium is the 65 ft by 35 ft badminton-themed graffiti—the largest of its kind in India—depicting Olympic medalists PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal. Both athletes acknowledged and appreciated the DBA’s initiatives on their social media platforms.

A major source of motivation for the players has been the cash prizes distributed from a dedicated corpus created by the DBA for international athletes. Over the past five years, the association has awarded a total of Rs 10 lakh in rewards to players outside of the prize money offered in tournaments. Notable players who have been honoured include Abhinav Thakur, Manya Ralhan, Samridhi Bhardwaj, Tanvi Sharma, Radhika Sharma, Jagsher Khangura, and veteran player Ram Lakhan, all of whom have represented India on international platforms.

Hansraj Stadium stands out in several other ways as well. In 2023, then Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur visited the facility, interacted with players and took a tour of the stadium. The stadium was also selected by the Prime Minister’s Office as the venue for the live telecast of the 81st edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat, highlighting its prominence in the sports infrastructure landscape of Punjab.

Speaking about the upcoming inauguration, Ritin Khanna added, “Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal will be our chief guest. Once this project gets launched, we are planning to set up a steam and sauna bath for the players and install solar roof panels too. We also have a host of events lined up from the next month. Sub Junior State Championship will be held here from August 14 to 17 and District Badminton Championship from August 28 to 31.”

With consistent upgrades, a clear vision and a player-first approach, Raizada Hansraj Stadium continues to raise the bar for badminton infrastructure not just in Punjab, but across the country.