President's Message
I have been privileged to be associated with the Kolhapur District Badminton Association (KDBA) and to serve as its President for the past few years. It is an
even greater honour to be part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of this
esteemed organization.
Fifty years ago, in 1973, the KDBA was established by visionary founders
including Shrimant Babasaheb Nadgonde, Shrimant Vikramsinh Ghatge, Shri.
Baba Bhosale, Major P. Y. Sowani, and Sardar Momin.Shri. Himmatsinh Ghatge
At that time, creating such an organization in Kolhapur was a signicant
challenge. However, with the invaluable support of stalwarts like Shri.
Narayandas Ruparel (Mumbai), Shri. Sushilkumar Ruia, Shri. Annasaheb and Shri.
Dajisaheb Natu (Pune), the foundation of this association was rmly laid
Since its inception, KDBA has hosted numerous district, state, and national-level
competitions. Reputed players, including Shri. Prakash Padukone and Shri. Iqbal
Maindargi, graced the courts of Kolhapur in their early playing days
Over the past ve decades, many talented players have been nurtured by the
Kolhapur district. Among them, Smt. Shobha Moorthy was honoured with the
prestigious Arjuna Award, and Shri. Mayur Tawde received the Shiv Chhatrapati
Award. Numerous other players from Kolhapur have achieved recognition at
state and national levels, adding to the district's rich Badminton legacy
Looking to the future, the association is committed to ensuring that national and
international-level Badminton competitions can be hosted in Kolhapur.
However, the required infrastructure, particularly modern courts, is currently
lacking. KDBA has ambitious plans to establish such facilities in the coming
years. This will not only provide a platform for training future champions but also enable Kolhapur to host state and national tournaments, further enhancing
its reputation in the Badminton community
Reecting on my personal journey, I grew up playing cricket during my
school and college days. However, I lost touch with the sport during my time
abroad for studies and work. During my schooling days in Kolhapur in the
early 1970s, I witnessed several Badminton tournaments organized by KDBA,
including district championships and state-level competitions. I vividly
remember watching emerging greats like Shri Prakash Padukone and top
local players such as Mr. Suresh Nadgonde, Mr. Iqbal Maindargi, and the
Chitnis brothers. Their matches left a lasting impression on me.
Upon my return from the United States, I was introduced to Badminton by
friends at the Residency Club. My interest in the sport grew, and I eventually
participated in district tournaments. Later, with the encouragement of
leaders like Mr. Vikramsinh Ghatge, Mr. Suresh Nadgonde, and others, I
joined the Managing Committee of KDBA. This journey has been both
enriching and inspiring.
On this momentous occasion of KDBA's Golden Jubilee, I express my
heartfelt gratitude to all Committee Members, past and present, as well as to
the association's members, players, and patrons. Their unwavering support
has been instrumental in the success of every event and tournament
organized by KDBA. I am also deeply thankful to the Ofce Bearers of the
Maharashtra Badminton Association (MBA) for their consistent backing of
KDBA's activities. Lastly, my sincere thanks go to the media for their
invaluable support in covering our initiatives over the years.
As we celebrate this milestone, let us honour the immense contributions of
the founding members and renew our commitment to fostering the growth
of Badminton in Kolhapur. With continued dedication and effort, the future
holds great promise for the KDBA and its players. Here's to another fty years
of success and excellence!