SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 15: In its 24 years of journey, Jharkhand badminton has made its presence felt on the national stage through the individual performance of players, that too without any government assistance.
Pairs of siblings dominate badminton
Since 2000, several individual players have excelled in the national championship and received national rankings. But among them, pairs of brothers and sisters have also been dominating the game in the State.
Aman Rehman and Ayan Rehman
At present, at least 10 star pairs of brothers and sisters dominate the state badminton and national champions from Jharkhand. The brothers of Aman Rehman and Ayan Rehman of Ranchi are the most popular.
Both brothers are students of ace coach Sanju Kumar Academy and have won several state championships while playing together.
Safi Akram and Jinat Aara
Safi Akram and his sister Jinat Aara are star state men’s and women’s players representing the state in national tournaments. Both are considered formidable in their respective groups.
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Emmanual Jaimasi Kujur and Sharon Evangeline Kujur
Other star brother-sister players, Emmanual Jaimasi Kujur and Sharon Evangeline Kujur of Ranchi are also considered icons of Jharkhand badminton. Both are students of star coach Bharat Kumar.
State women’s champion Manisha Rani Tirki and her elder sister Kajal Rani Tirki of Ranchi also have the distinction of dominating state badminton. Both are students of ace coach Umarani Palit. Though Kajal Rani Tirki has stopped playing professional badminton, Manisha Rani Tirki is currently the undisputed queen of court in the state.
Yogita Bora and Hishita Bora
Under-19 girls champion Yogita Bora and her younger sister Hishita Bora of Ranchi are also considered dominant in state badminton. The students of ace coach Jharkhand Bharat Kumar, both sisters do not play doubles together in championships but participate in singles events regularly.
Another pair of sisters who have hogged the limelight are Vaibhavi Maan, girls’ under-19 state runners-up, and her younger sister, under-11 state champion Savya Kiran, of Dhanbad. Vaibhivi Maan is Sachin Rana’s national coach and student, while Kavya Kiran trains at the Sports Authority of India Delhi Centre. In the initial stage, both were students of coach Sandip Dey.
Another brother pair, Himanshu Kumar and Priyanshu Kumar of Ranchi, is also the centre of attraction in state badminton. Besides, Babulal Bari and Rajesh Bari of West Singhbhum are also considered brothers jewels of the state.
Jamshedpur’s Ujjwal Paswan and Gaurav Paswan are also members of the elite club of brothers and sisters of the state badminton. Vats Batra and Vatsal Batra, both siblings of Ranchi have emerged as rising pairs in the state.
Two sisters of Hazaribagh
Two sisters of Hazaribagh, Arpita Sahay and Shruti Sahay, also emerged as budding talents in Jharkhand badminton. Unfortunately, elder sister Arpita Sahay died in a road accident two years ago, and the younger sister stopped playing in shock.
