Young Badminton player, Akshan Shetty, while preparing himself for the big matches, shares with us the benefits of training at P Gopichand Academy alongside top-rated players.
Akshan Shetty plays Badminton since he was 10. Being a hyper-active child, his parents thought of channelising his energy through sports. Akshan, therefore, was sent to a local badminton academy in Mumbai.
Akshan said, “Though, I was an active gymnast in school, still it was Badminton that I started enjoying the most. Consequently, I did not feel like pursuing any other sport rather than Badminton.”
Akshan came under the aegis of Maharashtra Badminton Association and in 2018 was selected to represent India in Li-Ning World Junior Championships in Canada.
Though the worldwide pandemic hit Akshan’s steady progression, still he kept his focus. He never shied away from training, and kept believing on himself.
In 2022, he returned to winning medals by becoming the Men’s Doubles Champion at Yonex Sunrise All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament at Hyderabad and Dr Akhilesh Gupta Memorial All India Senior Badminton Tournament at Bareily.
Year 2023 also turned to be fruitful for Akshan Shetty. He won silver medal in the 84th Senior National Badminton Championships and an individual bronze in the 37th National Games Badminton Championships.
Akshan is now concentrating immensely on doubles and his association with Pulella Gopichand Academy has made him a better player. He mentioned, “To train with the best always gives me motivation. I practice with top-rated players, watch them play matches, observe their skills and that’s a huge learning experience for me.”
It is Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy who have influenced Akshan the most. “Their coordination, focus, determination and above all their dedication in each and every practice session make them so special,” Akshan said while speaking about his idols.
Akshan Shetty is now eyeing to participate in some of the premier domestic and international tournaments. He is being guided by his coach and seniors at the Academy.
“It requires proper advice from the coaches for international tournaments. It needs proper planning, practice and also there are certain logistics involved. I am currently seeking sponsorship so that I can participate in more international tournaments. I am in talks with some of the companies for sponsorship and I am really hopeful. I want to keep performing well and win more medals for my country,” Akshan said.
