BHOPAL: In these times when most of children are not taking interest in indoor and outdoor games and are occupied with smart phones and computers, nine-year-old badminton player Gauranshi Sharma, who can’t hear and speak, stands out as a shining inspiration.
Her aim is to represent India in Paralympics, national and Asian games with the support of her parents and coach.
Sharma, whose favourite players are Carolina Marin, Sania Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu, recently won bronze medal in the National Athletics Games for the Deaf-2016, held at Jamshedpur in November. It is noteworthy here that she is undergoing training at TT Stadium by Coach Rashmi Malviya. Sharma stands at number four position in the national ranking of deaf and dumb players in under-13 age group. Till now, she has won silver and one bronze medal. Since Sharma can’t hear or speak, she answered the questions of Free Press Journal in writing and using the sign language. Sharing her experience, Sharma, who is a grade 3 student in Asha Niketan, says, “Before coming to Bhopal we lived in Rajasthan with my grandfather, who is a businessman. But my parents shifted to Bhopal for my proper and quality education. I had no friends here and when I used to go out to make friends, they ignored me. I used to get bored. My parents noticed this and started taking me out. I saw children playing boxing and other games but I don’t know why badminton attracted me so much. I think it is a game with fun.
“Then my parents, who also can’t hear and speak, took me to T.T. Nagar Stadium where I’m playing badminton since 2014 under the guidance of my coach Rashmi Malviya, who is also very supportive. I’m playing Badminton due to immense support of my parents. My father also used to play cricket. Now, I live at Day Board Academy and I devote five hours daily for practice. And my wish is to win medal in Paralympics,” says the young player adding that “I have met players Sushil Kumar and Gopichand and both of them appreciated and encouraging me a lot. But the common thing which everyone says to me is that “She will be the best Badminton player in the World one Day.” Besides, badminton, she loves swimming and drawing. Speaking about Sharma, her coach Rashmi Malviya says, “She is a very dedicated and hard working girl. But at the same time, she is very naughty too. In spare time or in my absence she does lot of fun and masti with her friends Rudra and Yash. It will take time but I’m 100 per cent sure she would get medal in Paralympics.”
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