Palak and her partner Parul qualified for the SL3-SU5 Women’s Doubles event in para-badminton.
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Paralympics: 18-year-old Palak and veteran Parul were not able to qualify for the Spanish para-Badminton International. The event took place from May 11-16. However, due to travel restrictions because of COVID-19, the duo could not travel. They received an official intimation from the world body BWF on Friday.
Palak and her partner Parul qualified for the SL3-SU5 Women’s Doubles event in para-badminton. This will be the first year that the event will take place in the Paralympics.
“We got the official communication today and I am ecstatic to hear the news,” said Palak, who is the youngest para-badminton player in the world to qualify for Tokyo Paralympics.
Palak and Parul are hold the sixth rank in the world.
“In the last few months, we have been pushing ourselves and training hard. Even in the pandemic, we continued to train under the guidance of Gaurav Khanna sir and never deterred from our focus.”
The top six pairs in the BWF ranking qualified and the ranking was released after Spanish Open.
“I am really grateful that we have been able to clear the first obstacle of getting a Paralympics medal. We have to now set our targets at the podium and devote all our energy in the upcoming days to achieve the goals.”
The duo was ranked fifth before the Spanish event. The duo was informed about the result after Spanish Open finished.
Palak and Parul currently train under Gaurav Khanna, Excellia Badminton Academy. It is the first Indian professional para-badminton academy in Lucknow.
“I am absolutely thrilled that Palak and Parul are the first ones from the Indian Para-badminton contingent to receive their tickets to Tokyo Paralympics,” Khanna said.
“The pandemic has been difficult on all of us, but this news has brought some positivity. We now have to prepare keeping in mind the level of difficulties the Paralympics will have for us and the work gets somewhat easier for us by having a dedicated training facility.
“We are extremely grateful to the Sports Authority of India, BAI, Welspun India who has been constantly supporting us.”
Palak will represent India in the Paralympics in two events.
