Now, an academy for para shutters...in Lucknow

Wheelchair shuttlers train at the Gaurav Khanna Excellia Badminton Academy at Lucknow

With badminton being recognised as a Paralympic sport for the first time after getting an official entry at the Tokyo Paralympics to be held later this year, a dedicated academy for para shuttlers, a first in India, couldn't have come at a better time.

Soon after being conferred with the Dronacharya award last year, the Indian head coach for para-badminton, Gaurav Khanna invested his prize money of Rs 10 lakh in building the academy that provided top priority to para and wheelchair shuttlers.

Boasting of four full-fledged courts and two mini courts (as per the international norms for wheelchair participants), the Gaurav Khanna Excellia Badminton Academy in Lucknow has become the go-to destination for para shuttlers in India ever since it officially opened up last December.

"This project is in collaboration with the Excellia School. They were kind enough to give us the space for setting up the academy. The infrastructure is very disabled-friendly. The training facilities are developed keeping the various disabilities in mind. The gym facility is quite accessible and user-friendly for all types of differently-abled athletes," Khanna told mid-day from Lucknow while watching one of his wards compete against an abled-body shuttler in a tournament. The coach was finally at ease after Nihal Gupta won the one-set match 30-25 in the Open Lucknow District tournament.

"It is no doubt, a huge challenge, but if he is able to beat this normal shuttler, the confidence level shoots to another level. It is also an effort to put them (differently-abled shuttlers) at par with the abled-body players," Khanna added.

National coach Gaurav Khanna during a training session with the para shuttlers at the academy at Lucknow

Khanna felt the need to set up an academy for para shuttlers after not being given priority to train at regular academies. "Para shuttlers have always been treated like second-class athletes. They are never given that dedicated training space. Even during tournaments, para shuttlers can play only if there is a vacant slot," Khanna lamented.

Khanna is also in the process of developing a state-of-the-art recovery centre, which is very critical in the development of para shuttlers. "I have raised Rs 75 lakh loan from the bank for a 2500 sqft plot. The construction is in full swing. We have a few sponsors and I contribute more than half of my salary from Railways in building this centre. Apart from luxurious accommodation, we will have facilities like gym, steam bath, sauna bath, hydrotherapy jacuzzi pool which will aid in the proper recovery of elite athletes. All these facilities under one roof has never happened in India," Khanna claimed.

He took special permission from the local authorities to train shuttlers in line for Tokyo Paralympics qualification during the COVID-19 lockdown. Khanna is expecting at least nine para shuttlers from India to make it to the Tokyo Paralympics.

"Out of the 13 qualification tournaments, 12 were already completed before the pandemic struck. The Indian team have won 141 medals (46 gold, 46 silver 49 bronze). Five athletes have qualified, but we are awaiting official confirmation. One more qualification tournament is remaining (Spanish International scheduled in May) and I am expecting at least four shuttlers to make the cut," Khanna signed off.