Delhi’s best bet,at 38

Analysing the team,Bakshi sounded confident and is hoping for a positive result. For the past three years,Delhi has had a struggling run and the shuttlers haven’t impressed in the North Zone event. But if their recent matches and form is anything to go by,it looks like the young bunch can turn the tide in their favour. “We have a good team this time and I feel that we have a chance to win. The past few years have been disastrous for Delhi but with players like Bhaskar Chakraborty who has represented India at the junior level,Harshwardhan Bisht,and Ashish Sharma in the boys category and seniors like Devinder Dhillon,Hemant Duggal in the men’s category,we are high on confidence and I am really hoping for a strong result,” he said.

Ask him what motivates him to still pursue mainstream badminton and he says without pause that it is the passion that drives him to the court everyday. It has been nearly thirty years since Bakshi is meddling with a racquet and he says to suddenly stop playing will be a farce. “See,the first factor is fitness and the other is sheer passion for the game. Since I also play for my employers,it is necessary that a routine is followed. And I mean,you can’t just suddenly put a full-stop to something which has now become a very integral part of my daily life. Now since I also help the youngsters and interacting with them comes as a pleasure,” Bakshi said.

Any other player of his age may have their moments of reconsideration — the idea of quitting the sport perhaps to give more time to their familial commitments but Bakshi believes maintaining an equilibrium has worked out so far for him.

“Such a moment could only arise if I am not devoting time towards other facets of life. But thankfully,I am able to do everything – working in office,being with my family and playing badminton. It is not practically possible for me dissociate myself from my sport. Youngsters come to me to get counselling over skill and style. In a way I am lending them some help in their mission to become shuttlers,” Bakshi explained.

Though he also wants to take up the role of a full time coach,non-availability of courts in Delhi is a major opposition in him taking that step. “For a long time I have had this idea of opening a professional centre for badminton,but the most daunting problem lies with the courts. If there are not sufficient number of courts,it is difficult to especially manage small children,” he added.