National-level ranking badminton came back to Chennai this year. The Yonex Sunrise All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament was held in the city from 16 July 2026 for eight days, and Tamil Nadu players won the mixed doubles and women’s doubles, two of the five titles, DT Next reported. Tamil Nadu Badminton Association (TNBA) president Anbumani Ramadoss presided over the opening.
That tournament sits at the top of a ladder that starts in the city’s school halls and corporation courts. This guide sets out where to play in Chennai, how state and national rankings work, the player ID a junior needs, and the coaching routes run by the state.
Where to play in Chennai
Chennai’s public badminton courts come from two bodies: the state sports authority and the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
- SDAT halls. The state’s 2024-25 sports policy note lists an air-conditioned indoor badminton hall at the Integrated Sports Complex beside Nehru Indoor Stadium, Periamet, and an indoor badminton hall at the AGB Aquatic Complex in Velachery. Access is through SDAT membership or booking at the venue.
- Corporation courts. GCC built indoor shuttle courts at Mandavelipakkam, RR Colony in Jafferkhanpet, Karpagam Avenue in Mylapore and Shenoy Nagar, Citizen Matters reported in 2019, when the monthly charge was about ₹200. The Karpagam Avenue hall had two carpeted courts open from 5 am to 10 pm when it reopened in 2020 under a private maintenance agency, and corporation school students could play free, Mylapore Times reported.
- Private academies and clubs. Most competitive juniors in the city train in private academies, many of them affiliated to the Chennai district badminton association.
Corporation fees and operators have changed since those reports, so call the zonal office or the hall before you sign up.
When choosing an academy, ask how many of its players hold BAI IDs and enter district ranking events, how many players share a court in each session and what coaching certification the coaches have. Sit in on a session before paying for a term.
Tournaments: district, state and national
Badminton competition runs through the Badminton Association of India (BAI), its state unit TNBA and the district associations. The sequence for a young player is usually:
- District ranking tournaments in Chennai, which decide seeding and selection for state events.
- Tamil Nadu state ranking tournaments and championships, run by TNBA in different districts through the year, by age group.
- BAI national ranking tournaments, such as the senior event Chennai hosted in July, plus junior ranking events around the country.
The CM Trophy 2026 portal lists badminton among its sports, along with ball badminton and standing badminton for para players, so recreational and school players have another state-level route.
Age groups and BAI rankings
BAI publishes national rankings in five categories:
| Category | Age group |
|---|---|
| Midget | Under-13 |
| Sub Junior | Under-15 |
| Junior | Under-17 |
| Junior | Under-19 |
| Senior | Open |
The lists are updated after ranking events; the latest senior list on BAI’s site when we checked was dated 30 September 2026. Ranking points decide who gets direct entry into main draws and who must play qualifying rounds.
The BAI player ID
To enter BAI ranking events, a player needs a BAI ID. The federation’s new ID page offers separate application forms for junior and senior players, a guideline and SOP on age-related issues, and a medical format for age estimation for juniors. Age fraud is the main concern in junior badminton, so expect documents to be checked closely. Make sure the date of birth matches across the birth certificate, school records and Aadhaar before applying, since any mismatch will be questioned. IDs also have to be renewed through BAI’s online renewal service.
Ask your academy or the Chennai district association which forms to file and where to submit them, since state units handle part of the process.
State coaching and Centres of Excellence
SDAT’s badminton Centre of Excellence for boys and girls is at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University campus in Melakottaiyur, on the city’s southern edge, the policy note says. Trainees receive ₹250 a day for food for 320 days, plus ₹10,000 a year for kit and ₹10,000 for equipment. Entry is through selection trials. Tamil Nadu won one gold and one bronze in badminton at the Khelo India Youth Games 2023, the same note records.
Quick answers
Where can I play badminton cheaply in Chennai?
GCC indoor courts and SDAT halls at Periamet and Velachery are the main public options; confirm current fees at the venue.
What age groups does BAI rank?
Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and senior.
Does my child need a BAI ID?
Yes, for national ranking events. BAI provides separate junior and senior forms and an age-verification process.
Where is SDAT’s badminton Centre of Excellence?
At the TNPESU campus in Melakottaiyur, for boys and girls, with entry by trials.
Information checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- TN shuttlers claim mixed, women’s doubles titles (DT Next)
- Badminton Association of India: rankings and player ID pages
- Procedure for new BAI ID (Badminton Association of India)
- Policy Note 2024-25, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- CM Trophy 2026 official portal (SDAT)
- Why amateur badminton enthusiasts in Chennai are a disgruntled lot (Citizen Matters)
- Corporation’s indoor badminton stadium opens at Karpagam Avenue (Mylapore Times)
