Table of Contents
- Question. When did the thought first hit about badminton as a passion?
- Question. What have been their major achievements in badminton?
- Question: What is your mantra for life? (quote or a thought you follow in life)
India has not been among the top performers at the Olympics or Asian Games, but some performances continue to ignite optimism for the future. These young & aspiring athletes are trying their best to emulate the success of established sports persons such as Neeraj Chopra, Lovlina Borgohain, and others.
Intending to see India shine at international events, additional funding, training, and fine-tuning serves as a morale booster for these aspiring athletes. Clicbrics, an online Indian real estate platform, recently sponsored four rising badminton stars in the Yonex-Sunrise National Badminton in Odisha, Bhubaneswar.
With the aim of encouraging talented athletes, Clicbrics offered this sponsorship to Aumkaran Sharma, Arya Mehta, Akarshit, and Eshaan Sharma. Notably, these players recently participated in the Under-19 Yonex-Sunrise National Badminton Championship in Odisha, Bhubaneswar, from 19th-24th Dec 2022.
Aumkaran Sharma bagged a silver medal in the Team Championship category in the tournament.
Performing And Prospering: India's Rising Badminton Stars
We got to speak with these promising youngsters and had a positive experience knowing their inspirational journeys.
Question. When did the thought first hit about badminton as a passion?
Young Aumkaran Sharma is living a dream shared by his father. During his early years, he played badminton at multiple academies in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. Post moving to Gurugram, his professional career took a serious flight, and there has been no looking back ever since.
Even for Akarshit, his father is his primary motivation for playing badminton. What started as a hobby soon became a passion when he started playing at Gurdaspur Badminton Academy.
The story of Arya Mehta appears to be somewhat different, as he initially began playing football. But fate had different plans for him.
Question. What have been their major achievements in badminton?
Despite the difficulties he encountered during COVID-19, Aumkaran Sharma recently won Silver (Team Championship) in the Under-19 Main Nationals Ranking Tournament, which took place in December 2022.
In addition, he previously achieved success in the Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19 categories in 2021. Interestingly, he won the Under-15 state championships in mixed, doubles, and singles in 2021.
Aumkaran admits that playing in numerous local tournaments over the course of ten years and consistent practice has helped him develop a strong mindset and has given his game that extra push.
Akarshit, on the other hand, is a three-time state champion in singles, doubles, and mixed badminton despite a shoulder injury that kept him off the court for 5 months. He has competed in the nationals three times and is a four-time school state champion.
Arya Mehta, a promising badminton player, has also suffered setbacks due to the ankle twist. But his determination to succeed helped him reach the Top-32 of the All-India Badminton Rankings.
Question: What is your mantra for life? (quote or a thought you follow in life)
Undoubtedly, each of these promising badminton players dreams of one day playing for India. This in itself motivates them to maintain a consistent level of play. Their unwavering attitude keeps them going through any challenges.
Indian sports must look for talent everywhere to become a serious sporting nation. Who knows these athletes could end up on the podium at the next Olympics because of your contribution. Every effort counts, right?