Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy (PPBA), Bengaluru (Bangalore)
PPBA was initially set up at the Canara Union courts in Malleswaram. Subsequently it moved to the Karnataka Badminton Association premises
PPBA was founded in 1994 by Prakash Padukone, Vimal Kumar and Vivek Kumar
Way back when PPBA was started, BPL came forward in the presence of Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BPL Mobile Founder) and Ajit Nambiar (BPL Chairman) to sponsor the Badminton Academy, making it the first privately-funded badminton academy in India and possibly the world . BPL provided the funds and the infrastructure
The current sponsors are TATA Capital
Some of the players amongst others, who went onto become famous National and International champions are:
** P. Gopichand, Dronacharya awardee and 2001 All-England champion -** Aparna Popat, 9-time National champion -** Vimal Kumar, Olympian -** Ashwini Ponnappa, Asian championship bronze medallist -** Vijay Lancy, former Indian International
PPBA celebrated its 20th Anniversary this month in December 2014