By Thanesh Veeramutu
PETALING JAYA, 14 August 2025: In a powerful display of community engagement, the Golden Route Badminton Academy, in collaboration with MYS Engineering, recently hosted a charity badminton event that brought happiness to 40 underprivileged children from the Anbu Illam Home. The event, held on August 3 in Petaling Jaya, was designed to celebrate the children, aged eight to 17, and provide them with a memorable day of sporting fun at no cost to their home.
The initiative was the vision of former national women’s doubles player A. Hemalatha and her husband, R. Vikneswara. The idea was born when a client of Vikneswara, who is actively involved in charity work, suggested a new project. Drawing from his own childhood memories of limited access to sports training and resources, Vikneswara saw an opportunity to give back through the sport he loves. He noted that in the past, opportunities like this were rare and he personally could not afford them.
The children participated in boys’ and girls’ doubles categories and received personalized coaching from the academy’s experienced staff. The organizers were particularly impressed by the participants’ discipline and enthusiasm. Vikneswara was moved by the success of the event, which was “one way for us to give our support to these children.”
Hemalatha described the event as “magical,” stating that the greatest success was seeing the pure happiness and laughter of the children. She added that the initiative fulfilled her long-held dream of using badminton to contribute to the community.
The successful collaboration has inspired the couple to continue and expand their efforts. They hope the charity match will raise awareness among other philanthropists and organizations, encouraging them to use badminton as a platform to support the less fortunate. By spreading the word about the positive impact of such events, the organizers aim to create more opportunities for underprivileged youths to experience the benefits of sports. This unique event demonstrates how a shared passion for badminton can serve a greater purpose, fostering hope and providing a sense of value to those who need it most.
Source: TheStar
