The Philippine Badminton Association announced the revival of its grassroots program after an extended hiatus.

PBAD head of development Melvin Nubla said their initial grassroots program will be implemented in 10 provinces across the country through local tournaments for different age groups.

Nubla said their program is in line with the vision of their chairman, Manny Pangilinan, of nurturing young badminton talents in the Philippines and producing a Filipino badminton Olympian.

"We are delighted to revive our grassroots program and provide aspiring young athletes with the necessary training and support to excel in badminton," Nubla said.

"Through this initiative, we aim to discover and develop the next generation of Filipino badminton champions who will proudly carry our nation's flag on the international stage."

Aligned with international standards and drawing inspiration from successful badminton nations such as Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and others, PBAD will also introduce the juniors ranking system, which is on top of the Philippine National Ranking System that is currently being set up and can be seen on the federation's official website.

'Through this initiative, we aim to discover and develop the next generation of Filipino badminton champions who will proudly carry our nation's flag on the international stage.'

The program will commence this August in Pampanga, a province known for its vibrant sports community and passion for badminton.

"PBAD extends its gratitude to the local government of Pampanga for their invaluable support and partnership in hosting the inaugural phase of the program," PBAD secretary general Christopher Quimpo said.

PBAD is thrilled to collaborate with FMKD Inc. in implementing its grassroots program.

This partnership brings together the expertise and resources of both organizations, guaranteeing the program's success in nurturing young talent and fostering a love for badminton at the grassroots level.

"FMKD Inc. is here to help PBAD provide a world-class experience to all JRS participants across all legs and ensure that the JRS program becomes a solid grassroots platform for recruiting new players for their junior team," Marvin Salazar, vice chairman of FMKD Inc., said.

"We believe that players in other regions are just as competitive as the players in Metro Manila. The talent is out there; we just need to reach out and tap into it."

The federation is still welcoming support from private organizations that share the vision of promoting and advancing the sport in the country.

Interested parties can reach out to fmkd.inc@gmail.com or +639985508455 to explore collaboration opportunities and contribute to the growth of the grassroots program.