#TFGinterview: From dreams of kabaddi to shuttling in Germany-- In conversation with Akshay Dewalkar

INDIAN DOUBLES SHUTTLER Akshay Dewalkar is currently playing in the German League for BC Beuel. 

TFG caught up with the shuttler over a telephonic conversation from Germany. He shared his badminton journey to playing in the Indian Badminton League/Premier Badminton League to the league in Germany at present.

Seeing his dad play kabaddi, Akshay too wanted to play the sport but he eventually got into badminton. Akshay states his reason,

"My dad was a national level kabaddi player and seeing him, I always wanted to play the sport. But he advised me that this sport comes with a lot of injuries and he cannot see him injured so asked to me take another sport. Then I switched to cricket. I went for training but never got a chance to play. I would either warm the bench or make me run around. This irritated me."

He further added how his dad's friend introduced him to badminton.

"My dad's friend then asked me to join badminton as his daughter Sampada Shetty was a former national level shuttler. And that's how my journey in badminton began. Initially I had no clue about the sport but when I started playing at a centre in Thane, my liking for it slowly started to go up. Then from thereon, it was looking back for me. At the age of 15 I played my first big tournament in England as a singles player."

He was good at both singles and doubles event but to excel in the international circuit, he was asked to master one category and therefore he chose doubles.

"I was a national champion in the singles event but loved playing doubles. I won a few titles in the junior circuit. After I completed playing at the junior level, Gopi sir asked me to chose one category as going ahead you can't excel in both, you have to concentrate on one event. Since I always loved playing doubles, I chose to play in that category."

Talking about how he landed up playing in Germany, in a league there,

"Many senior players have played in this league like Arvind Bhatt, Anup Sridhar and also Gopichand. I heard a lot about this league from them and they did tell me that it is a great experience as you get to learn a lot of things. Listening to them, I wanted to play and experience it. I've been trying to take part in this league since the past two years but for various reasons I couldn't."

"This year the club that I'm playing at, BC Beuel contacted Arvind Bhat and I had already informed him that I'm interested in the German league. As he has good contacts in the country, he could help me. And then the German club needed a doubles player and they contacted me and I readily accepted and now I'm here."

BC Beuel initially lost few matches but Akshay impressed the fans and the team. When asked how is the atmosphere like, playing in front of a new crowd he said,

"The team and the people here have been very hospitable. Top players in Beuel were injured and I knew they were in need of me so the moment I started my campaign, I gave my best. I was the most experienced player in this group and therefore had to lead from the front. In the doubles category it was me and Birgit Michels who were the seniors as others were juniors."

Talking about the league in general, the 28-year-old said,

"Everything here is very systematic unlike the league in India that gets over in two weeks, German league is played over the year. All our needs are taken care. It's a great moment for me, getting to know a lot of things. Looking forward to playing more matches. They have also arranged for my training at the main centre and it's all systematic."

Speaking on what he expects from the league, the shuttler said,

"Since it's a team game, the pressure is more, if I lose it affects the entire team. I will learn how to play under pressure which will help my confidence level to shoot up. This is also helpful in improving my personal game."

Akshay was part of the team that won the Premier Badminton League Delhi Acers and he shared the dressing room with the doubles and mixed doubles players from England and Malaysia. He partnered Gabby Adcock in the mixed doubles event. Sharing his experience playing alongside such prominent faces, Akshay said,

"Honestly it was an amazing experience as after PBL, my performance level shot up. I was in my best form and it was seen in the India GPG where I defeated the 7th, 8th and 10th seeds. Ended up as runners up. And the reason being that I was part of the same team as the big names. Playing with them made me feel like a champion."

"Even the first season of IBL helped me a lot. I was in the same team as Carsten Mogensen who motivated me and shared lot of his experience with me."

In the men's doubles event, Akshay plays with Pranaav Jerry Chopra in the international circuit. Talking about the bond they share,

"We both started playing together in 2011. There is a balance in our game as he is a good hitter and concentrate on the net game. We use his height as a advantage and we compliment each other's game. After PBL, Pranaav also upped his game. On the court, he too shows great confidence. We are doing well at the moment, ranked 28th. People don't take us lightly anymore so it's good for us."

Finally to conclude, a message for the shuttlers back home,

"There are many junior players in India who have the potential to do well. They want quick result. I just want to tell them that be patient, work hard and you will achieve all the success. Have a belief that we can achieve anything we want. Don't get intimidated by anyone. Just be calm and give your best."