ISF-BWF Programme Makes Impact In India

“By bringing badminton and its values to schools worldwide and by supporting through education and capacity building initiatives, we aim to provide long-term benefits to schools, students, teachers and all BWF and ISF Member Associations. We thank ISSO India for their excellent hosting and encourage other countries to join this global initiative,” said Sahir Edoo, BWF Head of Development Projects.

Yong Joo, BWF Expert Tutor who delivered the course in Pune, called it an important milestone for coach education in India, and was encouraged to see the level of engagement and openness from the participants.

“Bringing ISF, BWF and ISSO together allowed us to create a learning environment that was both globally aligned and locally relevant. This collaboration sets a strong foundation for the continued development of badminton coaching in the region,” said Yong Joo.

ISF Academy Director Romain Fermon highlighted the importance of knowledge and skill transfer to local stakeholders.

“We firmly believe that the ISF Academy has the potential to become a powerful catalyst for strengthening the role of international sports federations within national education and school systems worldwide. By deploying structured coaching and education programmes through the ISF members’ network, the Academy creates a direct bridge between international expertise and local impact, reaching PE teachers and school educators where it matters most,” said Fermon.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to our pioneer partners, BWF and ISSO-India, whose commitment and trust made it possible to turn this vision into reality. Their support has laid the foundation for a scalable and sustainable model, which the ISF Academy is now ready to expand and amplify in 2026 and beyond.”

ISSO Director Gaurav Dixit called the exercise “the beginning of a transformative journey”.

“The rock-solid foundation of school sports begins with the upskilling of PE teachers. ISSO is proud and excited to run this first-of-its-kind initiative in India, strengthening grassroots development and redefining the school sports education ecosystem,” said Dixit.

Quotes

“When we work with young female athletes, the issue is rarely a lack of motivation or talent—it is a lack of informed support. This session reaffirmed that coaches care deeply and want to do the right thing; what they often lack are the tools, language, and confidence to respond to the realities girls face between the ages of 8 and 14. By embedding female athlete health into coach education, the Badminton World Federation is sending a powerful message: performance and well-being are not competing priorities-they are inseparable.” – Aditi Mutatkar, Head – Athlete and Women Initiatives, Simply Sport Foundation

“Attending the ISF x BWF education courses has been a highly enriching experience for me as a coach. The programme provided a clear, structured approach to coaching, covering technical development, session planning, and athlete management in a way that is practical and globally aligned. It has helped me reflect on my coaching methods and implement more effective, player-centric training practices.

“This certification has strengthened my confidence and enhanced my understanding of long-term athlete development, especially at the school and grassroots level. The exposure to international coaching standards and best practices has been invaluable, and I am confident that the learnings from this programme will positively impact the players I work with and contribute to raising the overall quality of badminton coaching in our ecosystem.” – Dronacharya Mishra, Participant PE educator