Ibrahim bin Ajaz Qureshi, 13, from Ganderbal is the first badminton player from Jammu and Kashmir who has reached 28th rank in 2018 and 32nd in 2017 at all-India level during national badminton competition in under-13 category.
Ibrahim a rising star of badminton in Kashmir now, started his sports journey at the age of seven when his parents took him to watch first ever senior badminton nationals at Indoor Stadium, Srinagar, in which country’s top players like PV Sindhu, P Kashap, Sania Nehwal, Srikanth and other sports celebrities participated.
While watching the match in a scintillating environment, Ibrahim was attracted towards badminton. This was the day in 2013, when he started coming to Indoor Stadium, Srinagar almost daily to chase his dream of becoming a badminton player.
Ibrahim has become the first badminton player from J&K who figured at 32nd rank in 2017 and 28th rank in 2018 during national badminton competition in under-13 category in spite of the fact that no international standard or professional training was given to him.
He is presently U-13 state champion in singles and doubles, and is the first U-14 Khelo India state champion for 2018-19. After winning three state championships in 2018, Ibrahim was nominated by Badminton Association of India for three weeks coaching camp in Padekone-Dravid Sports for Excellence Academy, Bangalore. He is also expecting his selection for an international tour to Indonesia for a training program this year.
Besides his family, Ibrahim is all praise to his senior players and coaches here for their critical analysis and guidance which has shaped his game.
“More than my hard work it is the support of my parents and guidance of my coach Amir Rasool. They have bigger role in my success,” he said.
Ibrahim’s family stands with him like a hard rock. His mother left her job and his father is extended him each kind of possible support he can afford.
Despite Ibrahim’s selection for three nationals: SGFI (U-14), BAI (U-15) and Khelo India which were held in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and New Delhi respectively, he decided to give them a miss and attended a coaching camp.
“I missed the nationals because I was selected by Badminton Association of India for prestigious National Badminton Coaching Camp at Prakash Dravid Sports for excellence at Bangalore and thought it is better to improve my game than to participate in nationals.
Recently Ibrahim was approached by Baddyzone- Lining Bangalore to sign two years contract for a sponsorship training programme starting from April 2019.
On way to become a rising sports star, Ibrahim is doing equally well in his studies. He manages his time well between his studies and sports. A class 8th student, Ibrahim has been recently nominated as house captain in one of the prominent schools of valley, Tyndale Biscoe School.
The Better Kashmir wishing him the best for all future endeavors.
