National badminton champs Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani are actively engaged in an arduous training regimen ahead of next month’s senior Pan American Games in Peru.
For the younger Ramdhani, Priyanna, who is on a high after copping the 2018 NSC senior Sportswoman-of-the-Year award, her workout is geared towards improving her showing at the upcoming junior Pan Am Games in Canada in early July before she heads off to the senior edition of the games.
However, Narayan, who resides in Canada where he studies, is currently in Guyana on vacation but is pulling out all the stops to ready himself both physically and mentally for the Peru challenge.
“I’ve improved a lot and I’m looking to compete with some of the more experienced guys who [have] been to the Olympics… but I like my chances, and it should be a good experience. Competition is always good,” the 21-year old told Stabroek Sport.
Though a long shot, Narayan, who has been a find for the King’s Eagles University badminton programme, explained that the Peru event is also an Olympic qualifier.
“To qualify for the Olympic, I’ll have to be top 50 in the world or at least top 75…but I’m not sure about my last rankings…I’m way off that but if I do well in Peru, I’ll get a lot of world ranking points which will go a long way to my Olympic aspirations.”
Touching on his long term goals, Narayan disclosed that while the Olympic is at the pinnacle of his desires along with completing his degree, he is keen on continuing his badminton career as a pro.
As such, he urged persons to embrace the sport and encouraged those who are in it to stick it out, citing the availability of scholarship opportunities as a luring factor to play the sport you love while attaining an education.
Asked about the adventures of playing the mixed doubles event with his younger sibling Priyanna, and the rivalry between the two at home, he joked about her winning cooler points after her recent NSC award.
“Yeah, she got another Sportswoman-of-the-Year award, three times and I’ve only got it once so she has more trophies and medals now… She’s beating me with that,” he said with a smirk.
Stabroek Sport caught up with Priyanna who is also set to journey to Peru for the senior edition of the Pan Am Games. However, her immediate focus is clinching that elusive gold at the junior Pan Am event in Canada.
In her two previous attendance, she copped a silver and a bronze in the girls under – 15 category.
“I’m definitely going for the gold. It’s going to be tough because the others are working hard as well but I’m working towards it and I’ll go out there to do my best,” the 17-year old said.
Priyanna said that winning the senior Sportswoman-of-the-Year award has been a major boost for her confidence.
