Badminton in State gets double boost Anushka will play at the Dutch Junior International 2014 Grade A Badminton Tournament in the Netherlands and in German Junior International in Germany in March Niraj Prabhu/The Goan 22 February 2014
It is a time for celebration for the Goan badminton fraternity as young state shuttler Anushka Kuvelkar has been selected to represent the Indian badminton team in the international competition. Anushka becomes the first Goan after Leena Pednekar, who had achieved such a feat in the ninties. Moreover, Secretary of Goa Badminton Association, Narahar Thakur has been unanimously re-elected as the Joint-Secretary of Badminton Association of India (BAI) for another term of four years. Anushka will play in the Mixed Doubles event alongside Chandrabhushan Tripathy from Uttar Pradesh, representing Indian Junior Team at the Dutch Junior International 2014 Grade A Badminton Tournament in the Netherlands from February 26 to March 2 and in German Junior International in Germany from March 6-9. Vice-president of Goa Badminton Association, Sandeep Heble feels Anushka has got her due. "For last many years, Anushka has been performing consistently well in state tournaments as well as in National circuit and her selection in India team is incredible and well-deserved. She has good speed, deception and amazing fighting qualities. Her achievement is a proud moment for us all," says Heble. Anushka's selection in the Indian team will inspire other young badminton players in the state especially with Goa being the next National Games host. "There is a good pool of youngsters in Goa now who are talented, have been performing well and can make it to the highest levels with proper motivation, guidance and training and Anushka's selection should be a morale-booster to all of them. The GBA will do whatever possible to push the youngsters by implementing a series of measures which we have in mind. Now, the Sports Authority of Goa is also coming up with several new initiatives to boost local talents further so things are looking bright. The G.B.A secretary, Narahar Thakur is hardworking and efficient. He has now been re-elected as Joint-Secretary of B.A.I, so we expect to get good support from the federation also to achieve our objectives," says the upbeat Heble. The state may have a pool of good youngsters but that sample-size can be far greater if the GBA can tap talents from the far-flung pockets of Goa. The West Zone championship will be held in Goa this year and the GBA is looking to popularise the sport by organising the competitions in a grand way, says Heble. Source: http://www.thegoan.net/Sports/News/Badminton-in-state-gets-double-boost/07444.html
