It was moment to cherish for industrial city Ludhiana when 16-year-old Malaika Goel shot silver in 10 m air pistol shooting on Friday, representing India at ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The city erupted in joy and appreciation poured from all over. However, Ludhiana in on radar this time in Glasgow as young athletes from Ludhiana are expected to add some more medals to India’s kitty. City boy Pranav Chopra, 21, a badminton doubles specialist has already thronged into the quarter finals of team events and will start with individual men’s doubles July 30 onwards with partner Akshay Dewalkar. Winning all three group matches till now and thrashing teams from Kenya, Uganda and Ghana in Glasgow, the country has high hopes from this athlete whose parents live in South City, Ludhiana but he puts up at Hyderabad training under national coach Pullela Gopichand. His father, Mohinder Chopra, an exporter said, “We had sent him to Mumbai when he was 10. He first trained under Uday Pawar, renowed badminton player and then took admission in Gopichand’s academy. We are elated over silver shot by Malaika and now friends and relatives from Ludhiana are hoping for another medal from Pranav.” Since three years Pranav partnering with Akshay, has won all major tournaments was won bronze medal in Youth Conmmonwealth Games held at Pune. Ranked 41 in World Badminton rankings, he attained highest rank of 30 and won record nine tournaments in a single year. “He comes to Ludhiana once or twice a year but not much as he remains busy with his game,” added Chopra.
