The Paralympics are right around the corner. After a decent Olympic campaign, the batch of 84 Indian Paralympians is all set to go and win medals at the Paralympics. This is the largest number of players ever sent to the Paralympics from India. Out of these 84 athletes, 13 are representing India in badminton. This sport was first included in the Paralympics in 2020, marking a turning point for India. Out of the 19 medals won in Tokyo, 4 were won by Indian athletes, including two golds, one silver, and one bronze. The inclusion of this sport has helped India to win more medals.
This year, India could win more than 10 medals in para-badminton at the Paralympics 2024, according to Gaurav Khanna.
InsideSport exclusively spoke to the para-badminton team’s head coach, Gaurav Khanna. He is the first para sports coach in the country to be conferred with the Padma Shri Award in 2024. Currently, he’s training with the para-badminton squad in Lucknow.
High Hopes from the contingent
Gaurav expressed confidence in the squad, saying that the badminton players will secure more than 10 podium finishes. “Out of 84 athletes, 13 are from para badminton. When we compare to the last Tokyo Paralympics, we had four medals, including two golds. This time, we’ll make every effort to triple that number. But in any case, it should be no less than 10 medals from para badminton alone, and there must be four to five gold medals. We’ll try our best to achieve this as our minimum target,” he said.
Intense preparation in Lucknow
Khanna provided insights on the training camp in Lucknow sanctioned by SAI. “The athletes are doing their best, of course. We’re in a SAI-sanctioned camp in Lucknow, and everyone is working hard. We have intense sessions—four a day—and the team of physios, coaches, and everyone involved is making joint efforts to fulfil all the requirements essential for a medal-winning performance,” he added.
Competitors on the global stage
Discussing the international competition, Khanna acknowledged the diverse strengths of various countries in para badminton. “Para badminton consists of six categories across male, female, singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. It’s not like one country dominates all the events; it varies. For wheelchair categories, Japan is strong, while other categories have different contenders. But overall, China usually leads the show with a strong number of difficult players as opponents,” he said.
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On the Pramod Bhagat saga
When asked about the doping case involving Pramod Bhagat, Khanna said, “It’s very unfortunate and painful. Pramod is a star, and we will definitely miss his presence. It’s a vacuum, and his presence gives a boost to the country. Unfortunately, whatever technical glitches occurred, it’s a matter being handled by the legal team. Let’s see what best can be done; we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”
Historic Paralympics
Looking at the broader picture of the Paralympics, Khanna expressed optimism about India’s overall medal prospects. “This time, we will definitely increase our stake in the total number of medals we bring back to India,” he predicted.
