Ludhiana’s very own Dhruv Kapila is causing waves in world badminton. With his latest climb to the top 20 of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings, Kapila has hit a career milestone that puts him within reach of making it to the Olympics.
He and his doubles partner Tanisha Crasto have climbed to world No. 18—a massive jump from last month’s No. 25 ranking.
Climbing the Ladder
Dhruv Kapila advanced his Olympic aspirations by achieving an incredible No. 18 ranking because of his commitment and excellent work ethic. A sharp ascent in the rankings demonstrates not only his prowess but also the increasing strength of this team as they make progress on a global scale. Seeing how perseverance may result in such outstanding accomplishments is encouraging!
Kapila’s father, Gagan Kapila, has been a huge support system throughout Dhruv’s career. He is totally sure that his son is on the correct path to qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Dhruv will soon play in the Asian Badminton Championship. “Suppose Dhruv and Tanisha maintain this level of performance. In that case, they will keep going up the rankings,” Gagan added, also stating that the former Punjab sports minister, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, had praised Dhruv for his recent achievement.
Local Badminton enthusiasts from the Ludhiana Badminton Association, like Mohinder Chopra, expressed their excitement at Dhruv’s success. He said that it is a proud moment for the city, and Dhruv would bring an Olympic medal for India.
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Overcoming Obstacles and Beginning Over
Kapila has faced some challenges along the way. For more than a year and a half, his longtime partner’s injury dashed their ambitions of competing in the Olympics.
But this tragedy brought about a new dawn. Under the masterful mentorship of the great coach Pullela Gopichand, Kapila teamed up with Paris Olympian Tanisha Crasto, and the result was magical.
The duo won the mixed doubles at the Odisha Masters and qualified for the Syed Modi International tournament.
The Path To Achieving Goals
Dhruv Kapila’s life is a very motivational tale. He has experienced and braved monumental failures to come as far as he has and become one of the top players of this country. The young player, along with his contemporaries, has earned international recognition after winning gold in a number of categories at the 2019 South Asian Games.
His grandfather’s passion for the game gave him a head start in life. Dhruv started training professionally in an academy with the support of the Punjab Badminton Association, with his family making sizable sacrifices to give him the finest training.
“We thought that if he was going to take badminton seriously, he should train seriously,” said Gagan. The Kapilas even sent Dhruv to Mumbai for a six-week camp and, afterwards, to Hyderabad for months of training under coach S.M. Arif. When Dhruv was just 10 years old, his talent did not go unnoticed by Pullela Gopichand, who asked him to stay at the academy and train full-time after watching him play for only 20 minutes.
Even though the path to becoming a super player is daunting, the Kapilas are eager to promote Dhruv’s dreams no matter what it costs. Entrance fees to tournaments, transportation, coaching, and equipment expenses may run into lakhs since Gagan acknowledges it is a family expense for many.
What’s Next for Dhruv
As Dhruv makes his way upward through the badminton hierarchy, his sights remain set firmly on the next big prize: being included in the world’s top 10 and being a contender for inclusion in the 2028 Olympics.
With his boundless willpower and good support from Tanisha Crasto, all avenues lead in a positive direction for Ludhiana’s badminton sensation. Keep an eye out for Dhruv Kapila—he’s only just getting started!
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