Smashing his way to success

For many years, badminton players from Hyderabad have been making waves on the global scene. And recently, 17-year-old Badminton players Krishna Prasad Garaga and Dhruv Kapila won the silver medal in men’s doubles, by defeating top players from France in the Yonex Dutch Junior Open held in Harlem, Netherlands. While Dhruv is from Ludhiana, Krishna Prasad is from Kakinada, and the duo have been training at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in the city since many years.

Krishna Prasad, who is world No. 3 in the junior doubles category, also won big at the junior national championship recently — a gold medal in men’s doubles and a silver in mixed doubles. In December, he clinched a bronze medal in the senior national championship. “I’m playing badminton since eight years. My father, G. Gangadharam, played the sport at the university level and he wanted me to be even better than him. He began training me from a young age,” says Prasad, adding, “In fact, both my parents have been my support system. I was very good at academics but when I told them that it is badminton that I want to pursue a career in, they never stopped me. There is no academy in Kakinada and my father brought me to Hyderabad in search of academies. I got homesick often in the beginning, but I overcame it over the years. Hyderabad has been wonderful and it is my second home. I miss my parents, as I’m living away from them for years now. They sometimes visit me and watch me play at tournaments. It’s been very tough.”

Krishna Prasad trains for almost eight hours every day. “My coaches Tan Kin Her (from Malaysia), Vijaydeep Singh and Arun Vishnu have helped me a lot. Gopichand sir also comes to watch me play and corrects my mistakes. My seniors at the academy are my inspiration,” he says, adding that he is now preparing to become world No. 1. “The Indian Open Super Series starts from March 28 and I aim to win it. I also want to win more senior level championships.”

When asked what he loves most about badminton, he says, “It is a fun sport. Fitness has always been important to me and playing the sport helps me stay fit.”

Prasad is also preparing to give his Class XII board exams in Kakinada. When not playing badminton and studying, Krishna likes to play cricket and read books.