Gaurav Khanna is an instruct with a difference – the badminton player, who excelled on the countrywide degree within the late Nineteen Eighties, passed off to look at a set of listening to-impaired people attempting their serves and smashes on a nearby court. Moved by their efforts, he attempted his hand at training them to enhance their sport by some notches and commenced to accomplish that ever so regularly.
A noble endeavor became, as a consequence, released, which progressively advanced into a complete-fledged task, and Khanna, in the end, carried out what many believed became not possible. A passion grew right into a full-time career that saw listening to impaired beginners reap the blessings of the coaching program and remodel themselves into global champions on both the Asian and World level.
The results had been so constant that Khanna turned into asked to unfold his wings wider and shoulder the obligation of grooming India’s Para-Badminton gamers – and in the end, he becomes additionally at the helm whilst a combined Asian group beat their European counterparts in a tournament in Korea. In an interview with The Bridge, the celebrated educate who has devoted a lifetime toward helping the physically and intellectually challenged gain their dreams on the badminton courts takes us through his unique and awe-inspiring adventure.
Gaurav Khanna has no hesitation in any way in bestowing a whole lot of the credit to his mom.
He says, is extraordinarily nonsecular – and thereby helped inculcate values that have formed the form of man or woman that he’s nowadays. “My mom turned into a completely spiritual person. Hard of hearing people started frequenting my home often and that they used to play badminton inside the RDSO (Research Design and Standards Organization) courts in Alambagh close to Lucknow.” “A few of them used to try to wield a badminton racquet inside the court close by – others didn’t even hold the racquet nicely; however, it felt fine to help them be engaged in a sport of some type.”
Khanna became a successful badminton participant at the National level and, after his commando education, found time first to start coaching. “I changed into the top coach of the listening to impaired badminton players of India for many years. We took part in the 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Chinese Taipei and the Asia-Pacific Badminton Championship for the hearing impaired in 2010, which was held in Indonesia wherein we received the bronze.” “This was followed by using the World Championships in Korea. There became a continental match between Asia and Europe, and I become precise because of the train for the Asian crew back then. We gained that match.” India won’t precisely be a wearing paradise. However, Gaurav has a philosophical way of reading the floor realities of a country faced with many challenges.
“We have children who are malnourished. We have a whole lot of poverty on this USA,” says Khanna as he is going on laud the efforts of the authorities in promoting the kind of game that can not be classified as mainstream. “We don’t have anything a lot to whinge approximately. The authorities are doing their bit. I even have traveled around the sector, and I realize that India is brilliant u. S. A . – we are fortunate to be a part of a top-notch u. S. A ..” He is one of the few coaches on this land who’s adept at using sign language and has manually manual his wards to the Deaflympics on more than one occasion.
“The 2013 Deaflympics was held in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, and for the reason that I was turning in effects, I become then requested to take over as coach of the Para-Badminton group as well.” “Some of the gamers received scholarships and feature Government jobs now. After 2014, the sport became a part of the Olympics, and on account that then it’s been as alternative worrying for me as a coach.” “The timetable is hectic; however, the gamers aren’t leaving any stone unturned when it comes to turning in outcomes.”
Khanna is the recipient of the maximum prestigious award instituted by using the Government of Uttar Pradesh – the Yash Bharati award, which changed into conferred upon him in 2016 for his contribution in selling badminton for the bodily challenges. The accolades are certainly well-deserved, as Khanna admits that he and the gamers need to undergo quite a few fees themselves a lot of the time.
Yet, greater than funding and price range, the largest undertaking is to speak along with his wards – something that requires a splendid deal of persistence and perseverance. “It is tough to bypass on capabilities to the hearing impaired as you can’t talk to them – therefore signal language is the most effective manner ahead.” “I usually felt pity for them as they’re disturbing – they have the capability to do things which are not allowed to.”
