For 26-year-old Abbas Sugil, badminton was not a sport he thought he would master. But today, he is the top para badminton player in the doubles category in India, and ranks third in singles category in the country. Now, he needs your help to get an artificial limb to better his skills.
Sugil hails from Erode in Tamil Nadu. He was born without a left arm, but that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing badminton. “I began playing badminton when I was 16-years-old as a hobby during my summer vacations. Only when I was 19-years-old, I decided to take up para badminton as my profession,” says Sugil.
Sugil started playing in national championships in 2011. “I remember winning the first championship I played, it was not very difficult. It was held in Chennai and I won in the doubles category. I have won a total of 17 medals in national championships,” says Sugil.
Last year, Sugil began playing international championships and has already won 3 medals till now. “I won a bronze medal in doubles in the 3rd Indonesia Para-Badminton International last year. That was my first international championship, I was very happy winning it. The last match was with Indonesia and I lost it with 21-17 and 21-16 scores,” Sugil recalls.
He also won a bronze in the singles category and silver in doubles category this year at the Uganda Para-Badminton International.
Speaking about the issues faced by players who are pursuing para badminton as their profession, “I do not have any sponsors so if I have to go for any international championships, I have to ask money from my friends,” says Sugil.
Sugil’s father, Abbas works at a printing press and his mother, Isamma is a housewife.
He is currently getting training at Gopichand Badminton Academy and is preparing to participate in Asian Para Badminton Championship in 2018. “Both PV Sindhu and Gopichand are my role models. As I’m getting training from this particular academy, I don’t have to worry about the fees, they are supporting me,” says Sugil.
Sugil said that he was not considering getting an artificial limb till now, but now he believes it’s necessary to better his skills. “It would help me with balancing and improving my game. It would also improve my left hand power and I could exercise and strengthen it more for my game,” says Sugil.
Abbas Sugil has planned to undergo the surgery at Comprehensive Prosthetics & Orthotics in Hyderabad this month and the total operation would cost around Rs 1.15 lakh. If you wish to help him, please click here.