Local trainees get a chance to practice with 2 int’l players

Ludhiana: After the imposition of several phases of lockdown in the past two months, different sports activities had been affected across the county. But for some it is proving to be a boon as local trainees at Shastri Badminton Hall of Guru Nanak Dev Stadium are getting an opportunity to share the badminton court with two local international shuttlers Pranav (Jerry) Chopra (27) and Dhruv Kapila (20), who were here after the Gopi Chand Sports Academy had closed in Hyderabad.
After the ministry of home affairs decided to reopen sports stadium for conducting the sports activities in the country, both international players have started coming to this badminton hall to continue their training. After hearing the news about two international players training at the local stadium, several young badminton players have joined their early morning practice session.
Pranav, who is at number 10 in world badminton ranking of double and mix double event, said, “I have been in the city for the past two months after the imposition of lockdown. Moreover, the Gopi Chand academy was also closed to check spread of Covid-19 among badminton players of different states.”
“But after the governing bodies took the decision of reopen the sports stadium, I have started coming to this court after more than 12 years as I left the city coaching centre after getting selected for India team in 2008. It has been quite an interesting experience to return to my home town badminton court for sharing some important skills and techniques with to young players of the city as they were eager to learn more about advance coaching and training schedule being given to us at the GopiChand academy.”
“One of most important advice which I have given to local players is that they should not leave the practice session by giving excuses of final or unit term exams as sports is not a part-time activity. It is a full time profession for those players who want to excel in sports world and bring laurels to the nation.”
“I have to sacrifice a lot of things to secure my place in top 10 rankings of the world, and I have been telling these to the budding players here,” he further said.
Local badminton coach Sandeep Sehgal said, “I have personally arranged such coaching sessions for local players by turning the lockdown situation into a golden opportunity to allow them to learn some extraordinary things from two international players. We are spending two hours in morning daily with these two players.”
A budding badminton player, Tanmah Tomar (15), said, “It’s like dream come true to share the badminton court with two international badminton players because I have seen them on television play for India and now I am getting a chance to watch them play in front of us. We all are lucky to have some advance training sessions in such situation when players are struggling to attend daily practice sessions.”