Global Indian International School (GIIS), Noida is proud to share with you all that Advit Bhargava of Grade 12 and a badminton enthusiast, has represented the country at an international tournament held in Indonesia.

 We thought of taking up this opportunity to sit down and take a walk down the memory lane to understand Advit’s love for the sport and the steps he took to reach where he is today.

 During a brief tête-à-tête with Advit, he speaks about his journey so far, “I started playing badminton in the year 2013. That is when I began to take my liking for the game seriously. I used to play different sports at that time like football, cricket, and badminton, but the amount of satisfaction I got after playing badminton was something extra-ordinary. I chose to learn the sport professionally once my parents and coaches at summer camps thought I had a flair for it.

 My parents always encouraged me to give my 100% to the game. I joined MV Bisht Badminton Academy, Siri fort in Delhi; the facilities there were state-of-the-art. I used to train eight hours a day. My school supported me fully by allowing me to practice at the academy during school hours too. The teachers helped me with classwork and home assignments. Due to my parent’s and school’s support, all my focus was on playing the game right and perfecting my play so that I could participate in big competitions.

 After two years of continuous training, I became Delhi State Champion in under-13 doubles in the year 2015, and then again in 2017 in under-15 doubles. The game demanded more of hard work and dedication as the competition got tougher with each successive age category. In 2018, I got a chance to represent Delhi in Asia Junior Sports Exchange Games held at Tokyo, Japan. It was a delightful experience for me, as I played with players from different countries. I learnt a lot by being a part of this exchange program. The year 2019 was full of accomplishments for me as I got multiple opportunities of playing and winning numerous titles. I became a Delhi State Champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in the under-17 category. I bagged the runners-up trophy in the School Nationals held at Chhindwara, MP, and reached the Quarter Finals in Khelo India Games at Guwahati, Assam. I was also the runner-up in the All India National Ranking Tournament held at Imphal, Manipur.

 My stint in the year 2019 and the National Tournament got me selected in the Indian team for Asian Badminton Championship held at Surabaya, Indonesia. Wearing the Team India blazer was the happiest moment of my life till date. Not just me, my parents too were ecstatic and proud to see me at such a big platform, representing India. “

On being asked about the support he got from his teachers and mentors at GIIS, he shares, “The institution has helped me achieve my dreams and live up to my potential. They have given me opportunities to play more international tournaments. They take care of all my badminton-related expenses whether it is the coaching fee or travel expenses. I plan and hope to play in the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games eventually, and bag a gold medal for my country.”

“Since the last year, due to the pandemic, all sports activities have been suspended and I haven’t been able to play on the field. I wish the world goes back to normal soon and we all come out of this stronger and healthier, and the life is normal once again”, further added Advit.

 Talking to Advit’s parents, they proudly shared their views, “Advit has always been a sports fanatic. Therefore, it is no surprise to us that he has come this far and is eager to pursue a career in sports. It is only because of his diligence and sincerity along with talent, that he has made a name for himself in the game. There’s still a long way to go and we wish him all the best.” 

With such great skills and brilliance at hand, we wish and hope that Advit’s dream of participating in the CWG (Common Wealth Games) and Olympic games soon comes true, and he makes all of us proud by winning laurels for our country.