Destination Olympics: Vizag shuttler to give everything for an Olympics berth

Climbing the national ranking ladder from 20 to three in the Under-17 category and being the first player from Vizag to win a game in the national level have not come easy for shuttler Kalaga Jagadeesh.

Scaling up his game to a new high, last month he won the boys Under-17 singles title in the national finals of the PNB Metlife Junior Badminton Championship in Delhi.

Despite financial hurdles and lack of training from a top coaching academy, Jagadeesh has come a long way. His father, Venkata Surya Narayana, works as a systems operator in a printing press, but has extended his unconditional support with his scanty earnings.

“My father was also a good badminton player, but he could not pursue his dreams due to financial reasons. He is now working hard to ensure that my dreams are not scuttled midway. I am preparing to face all challenges and will give everything to represent India in Olympics. This is both my father’s and my dream,” says Jagadeesh.

He is currently looking forward to the Asian Badminton Championship to be held in October. “I am ranked 3 now and have to maintain that till October to qualify. Besides, I have to play in internationals games and perform well to find a place in top-level games.”  

Interestingly, despite having the scope to get into a good academy in Bengaluru, he has preferred to train in Vizag from his coach M.V. Murali Krishna. “Everybody asks me the same thing and also wonders how I am doing well in Vizag. My father too wanted to be trained here in Vizag. Besides helping me to improve my performance, my coach has worked really hard on my mental strength.”

The 16-year-old is pursuing his intermediate at Dr L. Bullayya College. “I have got a free seat in my college and my teachers are really cooperative and are letting me concentrate on my game. They also help me whenever I have any doubts. I try to go to college every alternate day and spend about six-seven hours practicing.”

“It’s obvious that sponsorship helps players when they are financially week. And I hope I will get help from the government and private sponsors if I maintain my performance. My mother, Padma, takes care of my diet,” he adds. About his plans to improve his rank, he says that though the rank gives a player confidence, at the end of the day its how you perform in a game that matters.