Rajeev Bagga
Encyclopedia
Rajeev Bagga is an India
n badminton
player from Mumbai
, who now plays for Britain
. He is profoundly deaf.
He was Indian national champion in 1991 and 1992, and reached main stage of the 1990 All England Open Badminton Championships
, the only deaf person to do so. He has won 12 golds and been singles champion at the Deaflympics
from 1989 to 2001, and was named
'Deaflympian of the Century' by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds
(International Committee of Deaf Sports) in 2001. In 1991, he won India's highest sports honour, the Arjuna award
.
.
His father, Brigadier
S R Bagga, was an active racquet sportsman. His mother was also a state-level badminton player. His brother and sister are also sportsmen, his brother having played at the national level in squash, and also defeated him in a key badminton finals in 1981.
Initially, Rajeev used to prefer playing squash
. In 1981 he won the
sub-junior title in squash (at age 13). Subsequently however, he moved to badminton where "eyesight would be more effective than hearing". He played in the Junior nationals for several years, and won the Maharashtra
state level championship five times in a row, and eventually became national champion in 1991.
In 1990, he reached the main stage of the All-England open, defeating the Korean player Ahen Chang in the third round of the qualification.
Despite his deafness, Bagga is also a notable doubles player, and won the national championships in 1997, partnering with Vinod Kumar
.
Like most Indian players, he had difficulties with sports officialdom. In 1993 his participation in the Deaflympics
was not formalized by the Badminton Association of India and led to considerable controversy.
He remains active in sports, and won the 2008 All-England veteran men's singles (over 40). He narrowly missed his sixth Deaflympics gold in 2009. 2003 and 2007 he won the gold medal in the men's singles at the World Deaf Badminton Championships
.
Representing the national team or in other team situations, the coaches' exhortations would be completely lost to him. In double's matches, he cannot hear the shouts of the partner. In one match, the players were being called by the umpire. Though he was present in the arena, he could not hear, and the umpire had decided the match as a default before he could realize.
, England
, where he is badminton coach. He is married to Rita (née Mistry), also a deaf badminton player, and has a son, who is not hearing impaired.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
player from Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, who now plays for Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is profoundly deaf.
He was Indian national champion in 1991 and 1992, and reached main stage of the 1990 All England Open Badminton Championships
All England Open Badminton Championships
The All England Open Badminton Championships, or simply All England, is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious badminton tournaments. Played annually, it developed after the success of world's first badminton tournament held in Guildford in 1898...
, the only deaf person to do so. He has won 12 golds and been singles champion at the Deaflympics
Badminton at the Deaflympics
-Medalists:...
from 1989 to 2001, and was named
'Deaflympian of the Century' by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds
Comité International des Sports des Sourds
Comité International des Sports des Sourds is the apex body organizing international sports events for the deaf, particularly the Deaflympics...
(International Committee of Deaf Sports) in 2001. In 1991, he won India's highest sports honour, the Arjuna award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
.
Life
Rajeev comes from an army family. At 12 months, he lost his hearing forever after a severe bout of meningitisMeningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
.
His father, Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
S R Bagga, was an active racquet sportsman. His mother was also a state-level badminton player. His brother and sister are also sportsmen, his brother having played at the national level in squash, and also defeated him in a key badminton finals in 1981.
Initially, Rajeev used to prefer playing squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
. In 1981 he won the
sub-junior title in squash (at age 13). Subsequently however, he moved to badminton where "eyesight would be more effective than hearing". He played in the Junior nationals for several years, and won the Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
state level championship five times in a row, and eventually became national champion in 1991.
In 1990, he reached the main stage of the All-England open, defeating the Korean player Ahen Chang in the third round of the qualification.
Despite his deafness, Bagga is also a notable doubles player, and won the national championships in 1997, partnering with Vinod Kumar
Vinod Kumar
Vinod Kumar or Vinodkumar is a common Indian personal name, it may refer to:* Vinod Kumar Boianapalli, is a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India.* Vinod Kumar Shukla is a modern Hindi writer....
.
Like most Indian players, he had difficulties with sports officialdom. In 1993 his participation in the Deaflympics
Badminton at the Deaflympics
-Medalists:...
was not formalized by the Badminton Association of India and led to considerable controversy.
He remains active in sports, and won the 2008 All-England veteran men's singles (over 40). He narrowly missed his sixth Deaflympics gold in 2009. 2003 and 2007 he won the gold medal in the men's singles at the World Deaf Badminton Championships
World Deaf Badminton Championships
-Medalists:...
.
Impact of deafness on game
His game was affected by not being able to hear the linesmen's or umpire's calls. Particularly difficult for him is knowing the score. In one match, he had been mentally counting the score, and thought it had reached 15. As he started walking to the other side, the umpire drew his attention that the match was not over; the score was then 13, and not 15.Representing the national team or in other team situations, the coaches' exhortations would be completely lost to him. In double's matches, he cannot hear the shouts of the partner. In one match, the players were being called by the umpire. Though he was present in the arena, he could not hear, and the umpire had decided the match as a default before he could realize.
Personal life
Rajeev is currently an UK citizen and lives in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he is badminton coach. He is married to Rita (née Mistry), also a deaf badminton player, and has a son, who is not hearing impaired.