Arsh Mohammad (left) & Sanskar Saraswat clinched the title in Mens Doubles Category in Senior Nationals Badminton. (Special arrangement)
Arsh Mohammad, 19, who emerged National doubles champion, was born in one of India’s most under-developed regions, Banda in Uttar Pradesh. The municipality of Bundelkhand receives special grants reserved for ‘backward’ regions.
His father Ashfaq Ahmed runs a tailoring shop stitching bespoke suits called ‘New Fashion tailors’. Ashfaq always nursed his passion for badminton, and eventually packed off his son to train in the sport.
Amidst the unchanging, perpetual ambient sound of the ticking of the sewing machine needle, the whirring of the pulley wheel and the monotonous tapping of the foot pedal, Ashfaq’s cherished distraction was badminton – for fitness and recreation. Beautifully cut, crisply ironed three-piece suits would line the shelves, even as the young Arsh took a liking for the fast pace and hand-speed of doubles shuttle.
An U13 title at Tezpur in Assam, and stagnant singles results, would help him make up his mind about choosing doubles. “Interest in singles dipped, and my coach Anwar Ali in Banda and my father whole heartedly supported my decision even before I turned 15 to play doubles,” he had once said.
Arsh’s father Ashfaq Ahmed runs a tailoring shop stitching bespoke suits called ‘New Fashion tailors’. (Express Photo)
It was a strictly middle class household, though Ashfaq never deprived his son of anything. “He ensured I never felt the pinch. He’d say – tum bas jaakar khelo. I’ll handle everything.”
His coach though not equipped to guide him in the doubles game, didn’t force him to cling onto a singles career, and Arsh would soon find himself at the Gopichand Academy in Noida, focussed on doubles. His ability to learn quickly and soak up the doubles attitude, would fetch him summons to the Hyderabad main centre. A bunch of good results with Sanskar Saraswat, would get him into the Asian U17 India team, and a good run in Thailand would leave the pair with a silver.
Currently, the duo train at the National Centre at Guwahati.
Arsh was thus one of the bustling band of doubles specialists keen on pushing through in the men’s doubles event, buoyed by achievements of India’s highest ranked shuttlers currently – World No 5 Chirag Shetty & Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. “In fact Chirag is my idol for his defense and consistency. I also love Hendra Setiawan, he’s so calm and composed. Hadbadi ni hoti (There’s no rushing in his game),” he said in 2022.
On Tuesday, his early decision to shift to doubles and a lasting loyalty with partner, paid dividends, as the duo won their first Senior National title.
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