Oyon Ganguly: Indian American teen’s attempt to conserve and reuse water
Compiled by: Team GI Youth
(April 12, 2023) It was the viral ALS ice-bucket challenge – wherein participants dump buckets of cold water on each other’s heads – that made the then nine-year-old Oyon Ganguly come up with an idea of a water-recycling device as he was surprised by the terrible waste of water. 10-minute shower wastes 50 gallons of water – this piece of information was enough for this Indian American to come up with The Cleaner – a water recycling prototype that filters water to be re-used in the shower. The invention won this Massachusetts resident Invention Mighty Minds contest, a national-level contest run jointly by the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) which acts as America’s platform for budding young inventors.
“I asked my mom how much water is used in a single shower and I learned that around 50 gallons of water is used in a single use. Multiply that by five people taking 20-minute showers, that’s around 500 gallons,” he said in a YouTube video. This was enough for him to come up with a device that could recycle and reuse water that drains away during a shower. His invention was made inside a strawberry box that held three layers of cleaning material–gravel, sand, and charcoal.
Explaining how his invention works, the Global Indian said in an interview, “When someone takes a shower, the water goes down the drain and through the pipe before it reaches a filter with three layers: gravel, sand, and charcoal. The water, which is now clean and filtered, sits in a storage tank before it gets pumped back up to the bathtub. Because over time, the filter gets clogged, there will be a little door to make sure you get access to the filter.”
The grandson of Bengali novelist and Sahitya Akademi award-winner Sunil Gangopadhyay, Oyon took the help of his friend Mateo Rosado for the filtering process. Oyon reveals that his invention can save both water and money. “Even though the invention can be expensive, it saves the government from spending more money to get water and also reduced your water bill,” he explained in the video.
He credits his mother for making him participate in the Mighty Minds competition. “I went to Camp Invention in Watertown. We build things with recycled materials and my shower model was built mostly with recycled stuff. I spent an hour over two weekends putting together the presentation,” he said.
Oyon has worked on another invention idea – The Space Cleaner – a solar-powered robot with one arm that melts space junk and the other arm vacuums up the melted liquid. The idea for this came to him while watching Apollo 13 with his parents. The Indian American thought to himself, “What happens to everything that’s flying off the ship into space?”
He plans to be one of the three things when he grows up – an inventor, work at Lego, or for Mojang (the company that develops the video game Minecraft).
(August 30, 2024) As a high school student, Bhavya Sri Suravajhala was witness to the increasing pressures faced by her peers, leading to anxiety, stress, and other teen mental health issues. Unlike many her age who would only wish they could do something about it and leave it at that, Bhavya swung into action. The result was Adolescencesio — a platform that provides educational resources, mentorship, and mental health support to adolescents. “Adolescencesio was born out of a deep concern for the mental well-being of adolescents. It combines modern mental health practices with holistic and Ayurvedic approaches, ensuring a comprehensive support system for young individuals,” says Bhavya, founder and CEO of Adolescencesio, in a chat with Global Indian. The young innovator is a Grade XII student at Amrita Vidyalayam, Puthiyakavu, Kerala. [caption id="attachment_39034" align="aligncenter" width="395"] Bhavya Sri Suravajhala[/caption] Adolescencesio At Adolescencesio, Bhavya leads a dedicated team of over 20 members, who share her passion for supporting adolescent mental health. “Daily operations involve coordinating with the team, overseeing content creation, managing outreach programs, and ensuring the platform's growth and sustainability,” informs the 17 year old, who also organizing workshops, awareness programs, besides providing resources to those in need. She feels the mental health
o share her passion for supporting adolescent mental health. “Daily operations involve coordinating with the team, overseeing content creation, managing outreach programs, and ensuring the platform's growth and sustainability,” informs the 17 year old, who also organizing workshops, awareness programs, besides providing resources to those in need.
She feels the mental health crisis among youngsters in India is a pressing issue. “With the increasing academic pressure, social expectations, and the impact of social media, many adolescents struggle to cope with these challenges,” points out the youngster, who launched Adolescencesio in 2022, with a vision to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive platform.
The journey has not been without its challenges— ranging from technical difficulties to addressing the stigma surrounding teen mental health. “However, resilience, adaptability, and the continuous support from mentors have helped me navigate these hurdles,” says Bhavya, for whom managing Adolescencesio alongside her academic responsibilities has been a challenging yet rewarding experience.
She even received letters of appreciation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice, in 2023 and 2024. “It was a recognition of my efforts and contributions towards adolescent mental health, which further motivated me to continue my work with even greater zeal,” smiles the teenager.
Denmark born
Born in Denmark in 2007, Bhavya’s mother Renuka Suravajhala is an Assistant Professor/Research scientist at Amrita University while father Dr Prashanth Suravajhala is a Principal Scientist, Systems Genomics at Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.
Bhavya had her primary education at Absalons skole, Roskilde (Denmark) after which the Suravajhala family moved back to India. Both Renuka and Dr Prashanth went to Denmark to do their PhDs (2004 to 2008) and subsequently postdoc that Dr Prashanth did until 2016. Bhavya has a sibling named Nirmala, who is 11.
Science researcher, COO & more
But Adolescencesio is just one part of Bhavya’s introduction. She is a science researcher, social volunteer, a passionate explorer and the Chief Operating Officer at TeenVisor, which provides a platform for teenagers to interact with industry experts and get timely guidance/mentorship.
As a science researcher, the teenager is currently working on a study that explores how the composition of tears is affected by emotions. “This research delves into the physiological and psychological connections in human behavior, a topic that fascinates me and aligns with my passion for psychology and behavioral sciences,” she informs.
In addition to her research, Bhavya is an active social volunteer, who organises workshops, awareness programmes and providing resources to those in need, through various initiatives.
As a passionate explorer, Bhavya is someone who is always eager to learn and discover new things, whether through travel, reading, or engaging in creative endeavours. “My curiosity drives me to explore different cultures, perspectives, and ideas, enriching my understanding of the world around me,” says Bhavya, who was honoured with the Little Shakespeare Award by the Biofootprints Foundation for excellence in literature, in 2021.
Atal Innovation Mission
With a vision to ‘Cultivate one Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators’, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) established Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India.
Bhavya was selected among the Top 100 in the ATL (Atal Tinkering Laboratories) Tinkerpreneur 2022 Program and later among the Top 21 in the Atal Catalyst Program, which was a testament to the innovative ideas she brought to the table.
Through workshops, boot camps, and continuous support from experienced mentors, she learned business planning, product development, and market strategies. “These programs provided me with invaluable mentorship and resources, allowing me to refine my vision for Adolescencesio.”
Her journey with AIM started with a simple idea — to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive platform for adolescents to talk about their mental health. “I wanted Adolescencesio to be a place where teenagers could share their thoughts anonymously, get support from peers and professionals, and access holistic mental health resources. The idea was clear, but making it happen was not. The breakthrough came when I learned about AIM,” she says.
AIM’s mission to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among young Indians resonated with Bhavya’s goals for Adolescencesio. The initiative was designed to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in students.
One of the most impactful parts of the AIM experience was the mentorship. Industry experts guided Bhavya, helping to refine her vision and offering practical insights into the mental health sector.
Atal Catalyst Program
The next significant step was the Atal Catalyst program with the Indian School of Business (ISB). This program taught the teenager all the essential business skills such as making business projections, identifying target markets, and perfecting her pitch to investors.
“Under the mentorship and guidance of Vinay sir from ISB and my AIM mentors, Adolescencesio was selected among the top 21 business ideas.”
Next came The Big PItch 2.0. It gave Bhavya the opportunity to pitch Adolescencesio to investors live and Adolescencesio was selected among the top 10 ideas for sponsorship by the DLabs Incubator association at ISB. This recognition not only provided financial support but also validated the potential and impact of Adolescencesio.
COO at TeenVisor
Thanks to AIM, Bhavya connected with other young entrepreneurs who share similar passions and goals. One exciting outcome is her current role at TeenVisor as the Chief Operating Officer, where she works on innovative solutions for adolescents with other young entrepreneurs.
“Whatever I have achieved so far would not have been possible without the guidance and blessings of Amma, Satguru Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, all my gurus, mentors, teachers, my school, my school principal, my parents, and my friends. They have stood by me throughout my journey.”
More recently, Adolescencesio won the 2nd place at the International Stogofest in Dubai, marking a significant achievement on the global stage. “We were the only team from India to have won this prestigious award, marking a significant achievement on the international stage,” smiles Bhavya, beaming with pride.
As a Tinker Champ, Bhavya had the opportunity to mentor and guide other young innovators, sharing her experiences and insights to help them realize their potential. “This role has been incredibly fulfilling, as I am able to contribute to the growth and development of future leaders and change-makers.”
[caption id="attachment_39036" align="aligncenter" width="506"] The Young Innovator is also COO at Teen Visor[/caption]
Future Plans
Looking ahead, Bhavya aspires to further her studies in psychology or a related field in behavioral sciences and cognition. “My long-term goal is to expand Adolescencesio's reach and impact, while also contributing to the field of psychology through research and practical applications.”
She hopes to implement awareness programs in schools and collaborate with NGOs and government bodies to create a global community where every adolescent feels supported and empowered.
(January 22, 2023) Proving President Joe Biden’s words, “Indian Americans are taking over the country,” right, several Indian-origin kids have been winning big at the Regeneron Science Talent Search every year. Also called the US’ Junior Nobel, several Indian-origin high school students have secured positions among the top-10 finalists at this oldest and most prestigious STEM competition, which discovers the most innovative of budding scientists. This year too, over 30 Indian-American students are among the semifinalists in the science competition. Inspired by compelling issues that cripple the pace of day-to-day life, these students have developed simple, unique, low-cost solutions, demonstrating their potential to become scientists and innovators for humankind. As these youngsters fight it to reach the top of the scoring board, Global Indian takes a look at the past Indian-origin students who won big at the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Neil Chowdhury An 18-year-old from Washington, Neil Chowdhury’s success in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022 is inspiring. He finished fifth among the top 10 winners of the United States’ Junior Nobel in STEM and received a cash award of $90,000 for his project, “Modeling the Effect of Histone Methylation on Chromosomal Organization in Colon Cancer Cells", which is
90,000 for his project, “Modeling the Effect of Histone Methylation on Chromosomal Organization in Colon Cancer Cells", which is an innovative computational method of studying the role of histones implicated in colon cancer.
The project he submitted to the Regeneron Science Talent Search shows his findings that histone proteins cause changes to the way a long string of DNA loops and coils itself to fit inside the nucleus of a cell. Explaining the significance of his project, Neil had earlier said that by being able to simulate biological systems and develop models of 3D genome, it can help us to better understand the inner workings of the cells.
In his experiment, Neil tried to replicate the method of modulating the DNA’s physical formation using molecular simulations of DNA polymers and coded the simulation in Python, an open-source programming language. His experiment shows that a modification of histone proteins can help with colon cancer by causing changes in the folding of DNA strings. Neil is exploring DNA, the basic building blocks of life, and will use the money to help pay tuition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Pravalika Gayatri Putalapattu
Just 17 and already going places. Indian-American student Pravalika Gayatri Putalapattu won the seventh place at the 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search. A resident of Virginia, Pravalika received a cash award of $70,000 for her project on real-time monitoring of laparoscopic surgeries. She designed a video-assisted program that uses machine learning to detect errors, if there is any, in surgical steps that doctors take in the operating room, so that a corrective measure can be taken immediately.
“My program was inspired by my cousin in India, who died of a preventable brain surgery complication,” Pravalika had shared during the competition, adding, "I wanted to create a tool that alleviates surgeons' stress and helps them perform better in the operating room.” Pravalika started working on Dynamic Operating Room Companion (also known as DORC) in July 2020 and her goal was to reduce the potential for mistakes in gallbladder surgeries. Using machine learning, DORC analyses live surgery videos and tracks the movements of surgical tools, such as the acceleration and velocity in use. DORC uses this info to flag potential errors.
Gopal Krishna Goel
This 17-year-old from Portland, Oregon secured the fourth position at the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021. A homeschooled math genius, Gopal made it to the top 10 for his research on mathematical properties of random matrices, for which he received a US$ 100,000 award. For his project, he made connections between two mathematical objects related to randomness and probability.
Speaking about his journey, Gopal shared during an interview that homeschooling gave him the opportunity to explore the areas of study he loved at his own pace. He also added that his father piqued his interest in physics and they started going through most of Halliday Resnick 2nd edition together.
The young scientist hopes that his work will aid in the search for the true nature of quantum gravity, more commonly known as “the theory of everything.” Gopal, who is currently pursuing his undergraduate in math, science, music, and philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is confident that the award-winning research will play a key role in the field of meteorology, nuclear physics, and quantum field theory. His research on the connection between randomness and probability.
Alay Shah
Among the top ten winners of the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search, 17-year-old Alay Shah from Texas finished seventh and earned a US$ 70,000 award for developing a possible low-cost alternative to MRIs. Through his research titled, Identifying Eye-Movement Patterns in Neurological Disorders to Assess Cognitive and Motor Function, Alay developed a tool to test eye movement as a low-cost, non-invasive method of quantifying deep brain function. He wrote the software, built the hardware, and conducted clinical testing on Dementia, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, and ADHD patients.
On knowing that injured footballers are immediately taken for an eye checkup to find concussion, Alay started working on the idea of using abnormal eye movements for accurate detection of several neurological disorders. During an interaction session with the media, Alay had shared that he is a big believer in project-based learning. He added that he took a look at the current eye tracking standard and he used a combination of a set of intelligent algorithms to redefine eye tracking at its core.
A resident of Plano, Alay has integrated into the device an infrared camera that uses the software he coded. The device also uses deep learning algorithms to analyze and interpret the data on pupil movement. He has already tested the tool successfully on 200 patients.
Indrani Das
Currently pursuing a degree in Chemical and Physical Biology at the prestigious Harvard University, Indrani Das took home the top prize of $250,000 for her winning project focused on brain injury at the 2017 Regeneron Science Talent Search. By manipulating astrocytes, a type of supporting brain cell in an injury model, Indrani worked to promote neuron repair.
A contributor to neuron death is astrogliosis, a condition that occurs when cells called astrocytes react to injury by growing, dividing, and reducing their uptake of glutamate, which in excess is toxic to neurons. In a laboratory model, Indrani showed that exosomes isolated from astrocytes transfected with microRNA-124a both improved astrocyte uptake of glutamate and increased neuron survival.
Explaining her research, Das said that when Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke, or a traumatic injury affects the brain, the neurons, which are the main signal cells of the brain, are killed. Next, the supporting cells -- astrocytes -- that are supposed to nurture and protect the neurons, go awry and create a toxic chemical environment, poisoning the neurons.
(October 7, 2022) Around 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period, volcanic eruptions occurred at the Western Ghats, giving way to the formation of the Deccan Traps. For years, geologists have been intrigued by this formation, and some 12 years ago, a Pune boy, too, got hooked onto them. This interest led him to become India's youngest volcanologist. This interest in volcanoes has given Sonit Sisolekar a chance to study the lunar surface, thanks to Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone 2023, a NASA-led competition. "Not many youngsters are into geology, but I love it. My tryst with volcanoes started at an early age, and I have been hooked since then. And now I am getting a chance to work on a LunaSat (lunar satellite) that can be sent to the Moon," the 2021 Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar winner told Global Indian. Growing up in Pune, Sonit and his father often visited one of the largest volcanic features on Earth, the Deccan Traps, which was only 50 km from the city, to see the lava flows. "I was three-four years when I first visited them, and it generated a sense of curiosity and got me hooked,"
as three-four years when I first visited them, and it generated a sense of curiosity and got me hooked," says the Aurangabad born. More such visits led to the collection of various rocks, high on basalt which is aphanitic and unique to the area. This tryst with geology kept Sonit fascinated, so much so that he attended an exhibition of rocks and fossils. "I learned a great deal about rocks, and knew that it was something that I was attracted to." His interest was further cemented after taking part in a workshop on Earth Science by a local organisation in Pune. At age 11, he began reading geological research papers and found out about lava tubes. "They are natural tunnels within a solidified lava flow, which were earlier occupied by flowing molten lava. And I discovered two of them. This was the beginning of my research in geology," adds the 15-year-old.
[caption id="attachment_22706" align="aligncenter" width="398"] Sonit Sisolekar is one of the youngest volcanologists in India.[/caption]
The discovery got him introduced to his mentor Dr Raymond Duraiswami, Assistant Professor at the Department of Geology at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "He is the first person I contacted after discovering lava tubes as he is one of the few geologists in India who have done a research paper on lava tubes in Deccan Traps. He found my discovery to be significant and recommended me research papers and journals on them," says the young volcanologist who credits Dr Raymond for inspiring him and guiding him.
It was his mentor who nudged him to look beyond the Deccan Traps and do some research on lava tubes on the moon, called lunar rilles. "In simple terms, they are lava tubes with their roofs collapsed." He began with the mathematical comparison between lava tubes and lunar rilles by juxtaposing the length, dimension, the slope of the two, and later presented the paper at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences Conferences at NASA in March 2021.
[caption id="attachment_22707" align="aligncenter" width="486"] Sonit Sisolekar has been working closely on the Deccan Traps[/caption]
His love for studying volcanoes has helped him bag an opportunity to do the same on the moon, thanks to GLEE (Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone) 2023, a NASA-led competition. With 200 teams chosen from across the globe, the mission aims to send small satellites called LunaSats, weighing 5 grams, to the lunar surface to conduct research. While Sonit is heading one of the teams from Pune, the training for the same will begin in October, after which each team will decide the motive behind sending their LunaSat. Ask him if he were to make a decision now, what would he choose the motive to be, pat comes the reply, "research on lunar rilles (the channels formed due to lava flow). I am interested in studying the composition of the kind of volcanism that occurs on the moon and comparing it to the earth."
This isn't his first brush with the subject, as this August he successfully led one of the groups participating in the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) in Italy to bag a gold for a project on 'Carbon sequestration in weathered rocks and its application in reducing global warming'. He even bagged two individual bronze medals, helping India show its best talent at IESO. In 2019, the teenager won big at the Cubes in Space competition by NASA for research on the possible role of ionising radiation in the reddening of Mars soil. "I had sent two samples - volcanic ash and powdered volcanic glass - to understand the effect of UV radiation on the sample, which was sent to space through a scientific balloon. It was proven in the mesosphere, it's exposed to UV radiation which leads to reddening of the soil on Mars," beams the proud volcanologist.
[caption id="attachment_22708" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Sonit Sisolekar is keen to raise awareness on geology[/caption]
For someone whose biggest challenge has been the lack of awareness on geology, he is keen on sharing his knowledge with other students through the Astronomy and Geology Awareness Tourism Education (AGATE) program. "I want to popularise astronomy and geology in rural areas, and I have started it this year only." While the work on AGATE is in process, he is using Astro-Geo Club on WhatsApp to create awareness on the subject.
The Paradise English Medium School student is keen to pursue his passion for geology in the future and has plans of attaining a degree in the subject with a specialisation in volcanology. The Class 10 student has his hands full with research and studies, but he finds time to pursue his hobbies. "I am a tabla player who started learning at the age of five. Apart from this, I write stories and love to paint and draw." The teenager who calls his parents the wind beneath his wings wants to create an impact by creating awareness of geology. For someone who is trodding a path less taken, he says, "you should have a sense of curiosity as it helps you achieve anything. Start wherever you are, rather than waiting for the right time," he signs off.
(January 21, 2022) What do you do when you’re fascinated with the world of startups but don’t have a tech background or the business know-how? Launch a podcast that addresses this knowledge gap. At least that’s what Indian venture capitalist Jivraj Singh Sachar did. The Kolkata-based 23-year-old launched his now hugely popular business podcast Indian Silicon Valley back in August 2020 to help answer questions like how to build a successful business. Today, with about 90 episodes in the bag, Indian Silicon Valley has been consistently ranking in the top 10 business podcasts on Spotify. And the Indian venture capitalist has managed to also feature about 30 percent of the country’s unicorns. For Jivraj, the motive behind Indian Silicon Valley (which has an active listener base of over 75,000) was simple: create a content repository for budding entrepreneurs and get valuable information and tips from industry experts. To that effect, Jivraj has so far featured several of India’s successful founders, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. While he is not hosting his podcast, so far, a one-man show, he is working his way around the world of venture capital at his day job with AngelList India, where he prescribes to the philosophies of Naval Ravikanth and Utsav Somani. A podcast to help startups, start up! Born
alists. While he is not hosting his podcast, so far, a one-man show, he is working his way around the world of venture capital at his day job with AngelList India, where he prescribes to the philosophies of Naval Ravikanth and Utsav Somani.
A podcast to help startups, start up!
Born into a Sikh household settled in Kolkata, Jivraj had the typical middle-class upbringing. His father runs a business in the wood space and his mother works in the fashion industry, while his sister works with E&Y.
The Indian venture capitalist, who spent most of his formative years studying in Kolkata’s St Xavier’s College, tells Global Indian, “Like any typical middle-class family our aspirations were to focus on our studies, excel academically and eventually get a degree in engineering. However, in high school, a whole new world of opportunities opened up to me. I began to get more involved in co-curricular activities like debating and realised that there was life beyond just academics.” This was a period when he was quite active in the college TeDx scene too.
The Indian venture capitalist eventually chose to do his graduation in commerce from the same institution where he’d done his schooling, and graduated in 2020. During his college years, he was actively involved in clubs and launched a few himself too. “I found myself drawn to entrepreneurship, and wondered more and more about what it took to set up a successful business. I wanted to know the how behind several success stories out there,” smiles the Indian venture capitalist, adding that Kolkata as a city was not very entrepreneurial in nature.
That’s when he decided to launch his podcast - To build a content repository for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build a business. The podcast, which usually lasts anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour, has Jivraj speaking to industry leaders to try and democratise industry knowledge for people his age. Some of the people he’s featured so far include Jaydeep Barman of Rebel Foods, Ashwini Ashok of Mad Street Den, Sai Srinivas of Mobile Premier League, Vikram Chopra of Cars24, Kabeer Biswas of Dunzo, and Abhay Hanjura of Licious, among others. He has also interviewed managing partners of major venture funds such as Accel India, Sequoia Capital India, and Light Speed, to name a few.
Completely bootstrapped, the only investments Jivraj had to put into Indian Silicon Valley was to buy a good quality mic and laptop. “Revenue generation was never the idea behind the podcast. I was curious about how to build a business and since I didn’t come from a tech background, I thought the best way to gain that knowledge would be by interviewing industry insiders. That’s how the podcast came about,” says the Indian venture capitalist, adding that today, he also features experts from the Bay Area, UK, Netherlands and Bangladesh.
Aired weekly, his podcasts have Jivraj quiz industry leaders on how to go about tactical things, pull off valuations, establish culture in the company, and how to startup in the first place. “I want to equip the masses with the tools to start their own company and contribute to the Indian Silicon Valley and economy,” smiles Indian venture capitalist.
All in a day’s work
On the professional front, Jivraj began working with AngelList India in December 2020; at the time he was one of the youngest employees. Today, he works in the venture operations team, and looks at investor relations. “I look up to Naval’s ideologies and principals. I also have great respect for Utsav, the India partner. At 33, he's one of the youngest investors in the country,” says the Indian venture capitalist, who is also an avid reader and loves to play table tennis when he isn’t reading up to understand the world of investments better.
A cricket and sport buff, the Indian venture capitalist also loves travelling with friends, and on occasion, adding adventure to the mix.
As his podcast continues to gain steam, Jivraj hopes that in the next few years Indian Silicon Valley becomes one of the most widely heard podcasts in the world. “I truly believe that innovation in India should not be restricted, it should be showcased to the world. And I hope we can do that through Indian Silicon Valley,” he signs off.
(November 12, 2022) When Lakshya Sen began training at the Prakash Padukone Academy at the age of 12, little did the Indian shuttler know that in the next nine years, he would reach a career-best sixth spot in the Badminton World Federation Rankings. The boy from Almora, who is in sensational form this season, has gained 76,424 points from 25 tournaments, thus catapulting him from the eighth position to the sixth. Lakshya took to Twitter to share his gratitude, and tweeted, "Being ranked 6 in the world motivates me to work even harder during the season. It is with sincere gratitude that I thank everyone who believes in me and supports me." Being ranked 6 in the world motivates me to work even harder during the season. It is with sincere gratitude that I thank everyone who believes in me and supports me. 🙏🏻 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/LjVKo2YbAl — Lakshya Sen (@lakshya_sen) November 8, 2022 The Indian star shuttler had a stellar 2022 where he was a member of the Thomas Cup winning team, reached the finals of 2022 All England Open, and also won the Commonwealth Games Men’s singles Gold in Birmingham in August. "This has been an amazing year for
The Indian star shuttler had a stellar 2022 where he was a member of the Thomas Cup winning team, reached the finals of 2022 All England Open, and also won the Commonwealth Games Men’s singles Gold in Birmingham in August. "This has been an amazing year for me. From the time I was a child, I dreamed of participating in the All-England championships. As a matter of fact, that was the only tournament I was aware of at the time. Being a part of the finals was one of the most incredible experiences," he tweeted.
The sport in his blood
The 21-year-old Commonwealth Games champion has badminton in his blood. Raised in the cantonment town of Almora in Uttrakhand, Sen was always fascinated by the game as he remembers holding his grandfather's hand at the mere age of five and following him to the only outdoor court in the town. His grandfather, Chandra Lal Sen, was known as the grand old man of badminton in Almora. It was during his first posting in Bahraich, near the Nepal border that he first saw the game of badminton, and instantly took a liking to it, so much that he even represented civil services tournament. He later brought the game to Almora, and his son (Sen's father) DK Sen followed in his footsteps. So, when Lakshya was seven, he began training under his father, who is nothing short of a revolutionary in the field of coaching.
[caption id="attachment_24099" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] Lakshya Sen has reached the sixth spot at BWF World Rankings[/caption]
Sen's coaching began with multi-feed shuttle drill, which essentially means that the coach stands in the center of the other court and keeps on hitting shuttles in different parts of the player's court making him move from one corner to another. While most players begin multi-feed drills at a later stage, Lakshya was at it from the go. "He hardly had a childhood. From age five, it has been badminton all the time. From 4.30 in the morning, even when it is bitterly cold, he was out training with his father," his mother told News 18.
While the initial training set the foundation for him, things started to shift for Sen in 2013 when his father took him to Prakash Padukone Academy to train under U Vimal Kumar and Prakash Padukone. This paved Lakshya’s way to the top of the junior circuit, helping him become World No 1 junior player in 2017. "My grandfather was a badminton player and my father is a coach. So, that’s how I got introduced to the sport and once I started doing well at junior tournaments, I decided to become a professional shuttler," Lakshya told Firstpost.
Beginning of a stellar career
The transition from top junior player to an equally successful player in the senior circuit came with its trials and tribulations during his short stint at the academy run by Danish legend Morten Frost. However, the constant work on his strength and stamina proved to be beneficial for the shuttler. He bounced back in 2018 by winning a bronze at World Junior Championship, a gold at the Asian Juniors and a gold in a mixed team, and a silver in men's singles at Youth Olympic Games. These years of practice on the court have made him patient as a player and have yielded him good results.
Taking home the Thomas Cup was an incredible accomplishment for India. Together, we delivered when it mattered most.
I won't participate in the Australian open. So no more international tournament this year.
Will start with malasiya open next year in Jan. 💪 pic.twitter.com/sabdaKXsQ0
"Compared to my junior days, I am a little more patient. Trying to rally more. I need to improve this more for sure, but there are a lot more things to learn, but from then to now, it is a difference in my game. That I make the effort to play better strokes from the back, not just go all out with smashes... trying to build up a point. In the senior circuit, everyone is fit and the shuttle keeps coming back. You have to play long rallies, long matches. Preparing for that, I have improved my fitness," he told Scroll in an interview.
The very next year, Sen won his first BWF Tour title by winning the Dutch Open men's singles title after beating Yusuke Onodera of Japan. The same year, he also won the 2019 Scottish Open in November. However, it was a two-week training with Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen in August 2021 that turned out to be a gamechanger for Lakshya as he learnt varied training methods along with strengthening and conditioning. This stint with Axelsen eventually put Lakshya on course to his recent success, including the CWG 2022 win. Despite the big stage, Lakshya didn't put pressure on himself "thinking about the medal" as he always had the belief that he can do well.
The sports star has bowed out of the Australian Open due to a throat infection, but he is set to cast his spell again with Malaysia Open in January 2023, and his fans cannot wait to see him on the court again.
The Young Innovator is also COO at Teen Visor[/caption]
Sonit Sisolekar is one of the youngest volcanologists in India.[/caption]
Sonit Sisolekar has been working closely on the Deccan Traps[/caption]
Sonit Sisolekar is keen to raise awareness on geology[/caption]
Lakshya Sen has reached the sixth spot at BWF World Rankings[/caption]