3 weeks ago
Hariharan to make India men's doubles debut at World Championships
Hariharan is a badminton player from India.
He is very good at jumping high in the air and smashing the shuttlecock down really hard.
Some coaches say his smash is world class, and it has been measured at over 470 kilometres per hour.
When he was younger, his family did not have much money for badminton.
His father worked hard to pay for his travel, and kind coaches gave him jerseys and shoes.
They even used old shuttlecocks and plastic shuttles to practise.
After his mother passed away, Hariharan used badminton to help him feel better.
A famous player named Satwik told him to move to Hyderabad to get better.
This week, Hariharan will play for India for the very first time at the World Championships in Delhi.
Hariharan will make his India debut in men's doubles at the Delhi World Championships this week.
He partners MR Arjun as India's No.2 men's doubles pair and trains in Hyderabad.
Coach Pullela Gopichand has called him "world class," with his jump smash drawing comparisons to Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
His rise came despite hardship: family-collected old shuttles, repeatedly stitched shoes, and unpaid bank loans for equipment and travel.
Satwik invited him to Hyderabad saying "You are my brother," and after his mother's death six years ago he channelled grief into intense training.
- Who
- Hariharan, a young men's doubles badminton player from Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu (the article gives his age as both 22 and 23).
- What
- He will make his India debut in men's doubles at the Delhi World Championships, partnering MR Arjun.
- Where
- Delhi, India; he is based in Hyderabad for training.
- When
- This week.
- Why
- He earned his debut after rising from a financially difficult background to become India's No.2 men's doubles pair, with his jump smash drawing comparisons to Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.
Key facts
- Event
- World Championships in Delhi (men's doubles)
- Debut
- First India senior appearance in men's doubles
- Doubles partner
- MR Arjun
- National standing
- India's No.2 men's doubles pair
- Fastest recorded smash
- Over 470kph at an international tournament
- Training base
- Hyderabad
- Hometown
- Mannargudi, Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu
- Coach's assessment
- Pullela Gopichand called him "world class"
Quotes
Hariharan
Indian badminton player
“"Junior tournaments happened one after another, so two-day train journeys weren’t possible. But our finances were not great for expensive flight tickets."”
indianexpress.com
“"Feather shuttles were too much initially so we learnt to control plastic shuttles."”
indianexpress.com
Satwik-Chirag
Indian badminton veteran and Hariharan’s mentor
“"You come to Hyderabad. Don’t worry. You are my brother."”
indianexpress.com









