Shuttler Jerlin Anika Chases 2021 Summer Deaflympics Dreams

Sixteen-year-old Jerlin Anika remains determined to win a medal at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics. For Jerlin the lockdown has put a restriction on the number of  hours of training. The Summer Deaflympics will be held in Brazil next year. “A medal for the country is a challenge that I have taken in my hands. It is something very important for her. We have been working for hours together in a bid to achieve this dream. But COVID-19 has crushed our hopes,” said her father J. Jeya Ratchagan to The Hindu.

A devoted Jerlin brought home four medals, including a gold, two silver and one bronze, from the World Deaf Youth Badminton Championship in Taiwan last year. She hails from Madurai in Tamil Nadu, and is coached by T. Saravanan from the state.

Key Takeaways:

• Sixteen-year-old Jerlin Anika is struggling to get ready for the 2021 Summer Deaflympics.
• Jerlin clinched four medals, including a gold, at the World Deaf Youth Badminton Championship in Taiwan last year, and made a name for herself in the industry.
• Since the lockdown started, she is unable to practise for the Summer Deaflympics to be held in Brazil next year.

Determined father

This Tamil Nadu girl is a gifted athlete, believes her father. “When my eight-year-old daughter started showing a liking towards badminton, I thought the sport will distract her from her hearing impairment. I never thought that she would reach this level,” said Jeya Ratchagan.

“I still believe things will return to normal soon. I want to see her smashing shuttles on the court again.”

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After Jerlin’s brilliant performance at the 2017 Deaflympics, the expectations have gone up now and her father is already making plans to send her for a three-month training to Malaysia after the lockdown is over. “It takes time for an able-bodied player to strike form after a break. In my daughter’s case, it’s going to take even longer,” he added saying that his daughter is now finally enjoying her time with family.

Jerlin is a class ten student of Avvai Corporation GHSS in Madurai.

She won gold and two silver medals in the doubles and mixed-doubles events in the Under-18 category at the World Deaf Youth Badminton Championships.

According to her father, the journey for Jerlin was not easy. “Initially when she started playing for the normal category, she lost a considerable number of matches. The umpire would shout out the points and Jerlin would not be aware of it,” Jeya Ratchagan had said.

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Her coach Saravanan started teaching Jerlin through drawings on a slate. “During the intervals between the match, I would draw a model of the badminton court and explain her mistakes. Through continuous practice, now Jerlin remembers the scores and does not cast a glance at the umpire throughout the game,” said Saravanan.

Jerlin has numerous medals in her name including two silver medals and a bronze at the Fifth Asia Pacific Deaf Badminton Championship held in Malaysia in 2018. In 2017 she secured the fifth place despite being the youngest player in Deaflympics held at Turkey.

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Feature Image Credit: Times of India

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