Sen inspiring shuttlers in home state

The crowd erupted in cheers as Uttarakhand shuttlers Aditi Bhatt and Angel Punera clinched the deciding doubles against Gujarat's Tasnim Mir and Shreya Lele, handing the home team a resounding start in the women's team event at the National Games here. Gujarat led by former junior world No.1 Mir was neck-and-neck before the hosts prevailed 3-2.

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Badminton is one sport the hosts are banking on to push their medal count. That is because of the presence of star Lakshya Sen and the ripple effect the success of this player from Almora is having on the badminton scene in this hill state.

From Almora to Pithoragarh to Dehradun, badminton courts have come up and several players from the state are among India's most promising at junior level. Lakshya may have missed a great opportunity to win a medal at the Paris Olympics, finishing a heartbreaking fourth, but his stature has grown in his home state. Young shuttlers look up to the Sen brothers (Lakshya and the older Chirag) as their idols and follow the path they have carved out.