JOIN USIt sometimes becomes difficult to get in touch with people having similar interests as Bengaluru is a huge city. What do you do then? Look forward to a group or club that gives you all that you need! The same was the case with Charchita Pramanik.
She was an avid badminton player during her school days but eventually lost touch with the sport as she couldn’t find any badminton court and partners to play with here. That’s when she got along with 2 of her college friends and started a small group called ‘CrazzyShuttlers’ in 2014, which has today grown into a big club.
“This club was started with an aim to solve the problem of badminton lovers in finding a place with great facilities and more importantly a place to play the sport. We were 3 of us — Avinash, Sailendra and myself who started the group and were thereafter joined by many badminton enthusiasts. As of now, we have about 2,100 members among which we get around 300 regular players per month,” says Charchita.
The club books indoor courts on a yearly basis, from 7 pm to 9 pm on weekdays and on weekends, they are booked all morning and evening as it depends on when the members are free to play. The core members ensure that they are present for every match to make the management of the game easier.
“There is no bar when it comes to the age factor. Anyone and everyone from kids to youngsters and seniors are welcome to live their passion for the sport. Though we recommend people to get their own rackets, we do have some available for those who have just started playing badminton and don’t have one,” she explains.
Of the places where they usually meet for a game, Play Mania in Bellandur, Citi Nest Sports Centre in Indiranagar, White Peacock on Sarjapur Road, Gurukul Sports Academy in Whitefield and Smash Sports Academy in Electronic City are the common spots. The core members also meet up once every week (either on a Saturday or Sunday) to discuss the various issues and ideas they may have. Dev Bora, another member of the club, finds it a very interactive place for all badminton enthusiasts. He has been with the club for 6 months now and is the youngest member of the core team. “I have been playing this sport for 6 years now but had to eventually stop as it became irregular and it was a task to find people who play on a regular basis. I heard about CrazzyShuttlers from a friend of mine and here I am. Everyone in the club is really passionate about the sport which makes it very encouraging for the others,” says Dev. He wants to engage more people in this game and create awareness about the sport.
Every member takes care of 1 allocated area, where they manage and guide the beginners and give them the required knowledge about the sport. “We want to make badminton an enjoyable experience for everyone who joins us. Facilitating them with all the required equipment is our priority. Most of the players we see are IT professionals and corporates. Apart from organising regular tournaments, we often socialise during dinner on weekends. We also go for day outings to nearby resorts where we engage in different activities,”details Avinash Kumbhar. For many, the club, apart from being a learning experience, is also a place where they can make friends. And after a long day, a game of badminton can be a stress reliever. For another active member Raghul, “Playing after 10 years with people I didn’t know turned out to be a great experience. I have made a lot of good friends here. The club is extremely professional in their approach.”
(The club can be contacted at 9845547616.)