BOMBAY: It is a matter of pride that Indians had the distinction of winning two gold and one silver medal in the 16th World Games for the Deaf (Silent Olympics) held in Christ church, New Zealand, from January 7 to 17, 1989, This honor was clinched by two boys, Sandeep Dhillon and Rajiy Bagga. They were the only Indian shutilers from Maharashtra to be included in the 10 member Indian team for participation in the “Silent Olympics”.
In the Games Sandeep captured a gold in the doubles finals and a silver to Rajiv Bagga’s gold in the finals lasting one hour and 10 minutes.
Sandeep Dhillon aged 19, debonair and athletic looking youth is highly agile. Before taking to badminton, he made his mark in roller-skating and swimming. His father, Col GPS Dhillon hailing from Amritsar district took premature retirement for the education of Sandeep in Bombay.
Sandeep Dhillon first came in to the limelight when he won the Senior boys title for Inter School Badminton in 1986 in Bombay which was followed by a victory in the All India Badminton Tournament for the Deaf in 1986, His scintillating performance not only got him the nod of the Maharashtra selectors who included him for the State team for 12th Junior National Badminton Championship in 1987 at Madras but was also picked up for the Indian team which toured Nepal to play for the K.G. Tandon prize money tournament in Nepalganj in February 1988.
His impressive debut in the international badminton arena was acknowledged by Bombay’s P.J. Hindu Gymkhana which is ‘considered the Mecca of Indian badminton by awarding him the Gymkhana Colour, an honor bestowed on the most promising, junior badminton player, It also earned him the same year the gymihana’s scholarship for being an upcoming badminton player.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 5, 1989
