City shuttler Aayush attends national talent search camp

The camp was conducted at the world-class Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence, Bangalore from December 14 to 24.

He was selected for the national-level camp on the basis of his outstanding performance in the talent search badminton tournament held in January this year.

Competing in the Under-10 boys singles category, Aayush had reached the quarterfinals which helped him clinch a berth for the follow-up camp. The organisers had shortlisted top eight players of all the three categories – U-10, U-11 and U-12 boys and girls singles for the follow-up camp. The camp was originally slated to be held in May but because of Covid-19 pandemic, it was postponed to December.

Aayush, who trains under Kunal Dasarwar, was one of the two boys selected for the camp. State Under-10 boys singles champion Thane’s Yash Sinha, who had finished runner-up in the competition held at the same venue in Bangalore in January, was the other state player to undergo camp.

PPBA co-founder and former All England Open champion Prakash Padukone handed over the certificate of participation to Aayush on Thursday.

PPBA director and experienced national coach U Vimal Kumar guided Aayush during the camp. One of the PPBA coaches and former Indian shuttler Sagar Chopda, Harish Padukone and others were present during the concluding function.