SUBHASH MISHRA
Deoghar, Jan 10: Indian badminton team coach Sachin Rana met Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh Lakra to discuss the development of badminton and the identification of young talent in the district.
During the meeting, the deputy commissioner sought suggestions from the national coach on talent scouting, grassroots training, and preparing players for state, national and international competitions.
A local sports enthusiast said this was the first time a Deoghar DC had taken a serious initiative to promote badminton, holding direct discussions with an established Indian team coach on player preparation.
DC Serious About Promoting Badminton: Rana
“He has strong technical knowledge of badminton and is serious about developing the sport in Deoghar. He asked detailed questions about the present status of badminton in the district, state and country,” said Sachin Rana.
Rana has coached the Indian badminton team in several international tournaments. He came into the limelight in 2015, when Lakshya Sen won the Under-15 World Championship in Kuala Lumpur, with Rana serving as his bench coach. Sachin Rana is a native of Jamshedpur.
Visit to Indoor Stadium, Interaction With Juniors
After meeting the DC, Rana, on the request of Deoghar District Badminton Association president Ashish Kumar Jha and secretary Kanishka, visited the indoor badminton stadium. He interacted with junior players, guided them, and expressed satisfaction with their initial training.
“I observed the skills of 87 children, most of them from remote areas. They have good potential if they are provided with proper guidance. I also noticed a very talented girl player who may soon make her mark at the state level,” he said.
Rana added that with the deputy commissioner taking a personal interest in promoting players, Deoghar is likely to emerge as a strong badminton centre in the state.
