India's para-badminton coach Gaurav Khanna eyes '10-12 medals' from Paris Paralympics 2024

Published at :August 28, 2024 at 12:40 PM

Modified at :August 28, 2024 at 12:40 PM

(Courtesy : @GauravParaCoach/X)

India won two gold, one silver and bronze each in para-badminton at Tokyo.

Gaurav Khanna is the current head coach of the Indian para-badminton team, credited with bringing the game of para-badminton to India. Born on December 11, 1975, Khanna faced several challenges in his childhood but was always eager for an opportunity to change people’s lives. He is the subject of the National Geographic documentary series #OneForChange.

Khanna is a qualified international umpire and referee for Badminton Asia and has officiated at over 100 international events. He has also served as a competition director and technical official for national and international multisport competitions.

He is the founder of the Gaurav Khanna Excellia Badminton Academy, which includes the first para-badminton academy in India. The academy features high-quality courts, a gym, and wellness areas. It is a charitable organization that offers free training and education to differently-abled athletes and was awarded the Best Academy Award by the Radiant Differently Abled Sports Award in 2023.

During his coaching tenure, Indian para-badminton players have won 920 medals in international events such as the Asian Para Games, World Championships, and the Tokyo Paralympics. Some of Khanna’s most remarkable students include Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj, Abu Hubaida, Palak Kohli, Chirag Baretha, and Prem Kumar Ale.

Khanna was awarded the Padma Shri in 2024 and became the first para-sports coach in India to receive the Dronacharya Award for para-badminton in 2020. His leadership and performance have earned him respect and have motivated the development of para-sports in the country.

In a close conversation with Khel Now, the maestro shares early struggles behind his success, his scouting process, long-term goals, and expectations for the upcoming Paris Paralympics 2024.

Early Struggles

When it comes to creating an inclusive environment for para-athletes in India, Gaurav Khanna, the National Head Coach for Para-Badminton, has been a trailblazer. Recounting the humble beginnings, Khanna narrates, “When I became the national head coach, I realized there was no specific place for Para athletes to train together. Initially, we trained at Lucknow Sports College under dim lights, on shabby wooden courts, and with a leaking roof. The conditions weren’t good, but at least everyone trained under a roof, and it started showing results.”

Despite the challenges, Khanna’s perseverance paid off, as he acknowledges, “In 2019, we got support from OGQ for rental accommodation. By 2020, with badminton debuting in the Tokyo Paralympics, we needed a dedicated center. This led us to shift to Omaxe City. A friend from Maxilia School let me use his place for training. We rented apartments for the stay, but they weren’t disability-friendly. So, I took a loan and established Drona Paralympic House.”

With a sense of pride, Khanna reveals the remarkable transformation, “Now we have a gym, sauna, steam bath, ice bath, jacuzzi, and hydrotherapy in the same academy. We have three cooks and it’s a dedicated structure.” His unwavering commitment to providing world-class facilities for para-athletes in India is a testament to his vision and dedication.

Scouting Talents

Establishing a world-class academy for para-athletes was just the first step in Gaurav Khanna’s mission. Scouting talents from across the country and providing them with the right opportunities was equally crucial. One of the most remarkable stories is that of Palak Kohli, who was discovered outside a shopping mall and went on to become one of India’s youngest Paralympians.

Recounting the unorthodox methods employed in talent scouting, Khanna shares, “I was like when I used to walk down the road and saw someone, I would just approach them directly. Or I would ask my friend to keep an eye out and, if he came across any differently-abled kids, to kindly tell them to contact me on my number. That seemed to be the only way to reach out and make a difference.”

Life as a BWF Umpire and Match Referee

Shri Khanna has diverse credentials in badminton. Other than being an established high-performance coach, Mr. Khanna is a Qualified International Umpire and Qualified International Referee of Badminton Asia, having travelled throughout the world to officiate and represent the country in over 100 international sporting events.

“I believe I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. I want to learn everything possible within my reach as a human being. When I started playing badminton, I refused to be limited to one aspect. In 2019, I worked as a live scorer at the World Championship, becoming the first person to learn live scoring in my country. After mastering live scoring, I dove into learning the tournament software and became the youngest match controller in the nation. I kept asking myself, ‘What’s next?’

“In 2012, I took my first examination in the Maldives, sent by Badminton India. Later, I aced the Badminton Asia examination in South Korea, topping the class. Driven by my thirst for knowledge, I pursued the referee course and was sent to Thailand, where I passed with a 99% score.

“People often remarked, ‘He’s doing this too? And that?’ But I believe life is short, and whatever you can achieve, learn, and gain in knowledge, you should pursue it wholeheartedly.”

At several national and international multisport events in India and abroad, he has held positions as Competition Director, Competition Manager, Live Scorer, Match Controller, and Technical Official.

Expectations from Paris Paralympics 2024

India’s remarkable success in para-badminton on the international stage has been a testament to the dedicated efforts of the athletes and the coaching staff. Leading this charge is the Indian Para-badminton head coach, whose insights shed light on the sports’ growing significance and the team’s ambitious goals.

Highlighting the substantial contribution of para-badminton to India’s overall medal tally, the coach states, “Properly speaking, at Asian Para Games 2022, badminton attributed 21 medals out of the total 111 medals won by India, which is around 20% of the total stake. We saw a similar statistical outlook at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 as well.”

Building on this impressive performance, the Indian badminton contingent at the BWF World Para Badminton Championships 2024 marked a haul of success, collecting a whopping total of 18 medals.

With the Paris Paralympics 2024 on the horizon, the head coach exudes confidence, asserting, “We will definitely bring 10-12 medals from Paris Paralympics 2024 this time, making a 40% stake of the total medal.”

Long Term Goals

Expressing a long-cherished dream, the coach reveals, “I want to open a school in my academy. It is the right time to start preparing for the 2028, 2032 Paralympics. For that, we need more youngsters to visit my place. There is a constraint of infrastructure; we have only four courts, so it’s difficult to accommodate more people.”

Recognizing the importance of holistic development, the coach further elaborates, “I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately—I really want to open a school where I can accommodate more and more young children and kids. I want to be able to assure their parents that their kids will get education, have access to nutritious food, and receive good training to secure their future. My ultimate goal is to find some support and open a school for the disabled, where everyone can have free-of-cost training and education as well.”

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