Nadav a champion in four months

Nadav started playing the sport after observing his sister Narisa Singh training under coach Anand Maraj at the Southern Sports Badminton Club.

Narisa, a form two student at Naparima Girls, showed a keen interest in the sport and her parents decided to enrol her into coach Maraj’s programme. While accompanying her to practise sessions, Nadav and his father picked up racquets and started playing and soon Nadav caught the eye of the coach who say great potential in him. Four months later, he was crowned the 2017 champion in the Under-11 Boys Singles and Doubles categories.

Nadav, speaking to Newsday, expressed delight in his achievement of becoming junior champion in both categories.

“I felt really happy because whenever I am on the court, the only thing on my mind is try to win and I ended up winning both the Singles and Doubles,” he said.

When asked which of the two trophies he appreciated the most, he declared, “I like the singles trophy more because I did it by myself and I felt really excited when I won it.” The standard three student of Brothers’ Presbyterian primary school in Williamsville thanked his coach, his sister and his unwavering family support.

His father, Naresh, a Physical Educator at the Williamsville Secondary School, explained the sacrifices he makes in ensuring his children get their education and train properly.

“Sometimes you may have to just be around while the training session takes place, but in my case, I usually find things to keep me occupied such as cleaning out the car, sometimes taking a run on the field or even make a quick run to the grocery and get a few items,” he said.

He added, “It is important to find the time because they need the support because even though they like what they are doing, it will have some days they may not be 100 percent up to it but that is when you have to guide and give them the extra push to have the desire to continue.” Anand Maraj, president and Head Coach of the Southern Stars Badminton Club, has been coaching badminton for over 13 years at several primary and secondary schools throughout south Trinidad. After gaining positive feedback from several parents he opened the club at Naparima Girls High School.

As the club began growing, he decided to move the training sessions to Pleasantville Indoor Complex and also attained permission to use La Romain High School’s facility as the club’s headquarters.