Delhi face uphill task against top-ranked PSPB

“They have a lot of distractions and honestly they do not practice hard enough to be successful in this level. Take a player like Tanvir Gill. He certainly had the ability to play for India,but he got lost along the way. Another issue we have is that we do not have a strong bench strength. I am always hoping we get a promising new batch of junior players who will be able to take on the seniors,but they don’t seem to have the ability either. For these Nationals,I have taken players who I believe show some spark of enthusiasm and train frequently. “

Sachin Rawat,a 22-year-old student of Hansraj College is the highest ranked Delhi player having won the state championships in September. “We honestly have no high hopes in the team event. Provided the draw is beneficial in the individual singles event,I think I will have a better chance.”

18-year-old Ashish Sharma who reached the third round in the Junior Nationals is the only one who cuts a positive figure. “We probably will lose. But these are my first Senior Nationals. I am going to make the most of my opportunity. I will look to gain some experience and learn on the court from someone like Kashyap.”

Tanveer hopeful
A section of the crowd at the venue at Rohtak’s MD University,is unruly and constantly passing loud comments at Abhantika Deka,who is partnering Delhi’s Tanveer Gill in a mixed doubles qualifying match at the 75 th Senior Badminton Nationals. Neither Deka nor Gill lose their composure and go on to win the match comfortably.

“What they said I knew was not directed at me,but at Abantika. But thankfully she is from Assam and so does not understand much Hindi. So there really was not much of a bother,” smiles Tanveer after the match which he and his partner win to move into the main draw of the event. “You need to be able to react according to the situation and be able to play in any sort of environment. That is also what I try to teach my students” says Tanveer.

Yes,Tanvir who has also made it to the main draw in the men’s doubles partnerning K Tanishk of Andhra Pradesh,is also a coach. Tanvir is a junior coach at the Pitampura Sports complex. Along with the coach a number of his students have also playing at the nationals. Mohita Sachdev who is already playing in the main draw is one,as are Gauranshu Chopra and Abhinav Prakash who lost out in qualification.

A badminton player who is rated by Delhi coach as one who had a genuine chance of playing for the national team at one point,early in his career,Tanveer hopes by coaching he will be able to see another player fulfill that expectation. “It is difficult. Pitampura is quite far from most places in Delhi. I am not seeing the kind of commitment that I know is required,” he says. A resident of Ghazipur in East Delhi,Tanvir is 28.

It is an age towards the end of most badminton players careers and he knows and accepts that. His on court priorities have changed accordingly. “ When I started playing I was always tense and worried about the kind of shot I had to play. Right now I am playing more of fun than with any sense of ambition. That’s also why I don’t play singles any more,although that’s how I started my career. There is fun playing doubles and movement s I can execute in mixed doubles makes it even more exciting for me. “