Thirteen-year-old Gautham Sumesh is preparing to compete at the Canadian National Badminton Championships, fulfilling a dream shared with his late father.
The Saskatchewan teenager has practiced the sport since he was old enough to hold a racket. His family moved from India to Canada in 2022 specifically to support his development as a badminton player, according to his mother, Gayathri Ramdas.
“When we moved to Canada, we only had one thing in mind: Gautham’s badminton,” Ramdas told Radio-Canada. “It is the foundation of our family life.”
Sumesh Pulavathil dedicated countless hours to training his son and supplying him with gear. The first time Gautham managed to defeat his father in a match, the family celebrated with a drink.
Tragedy struck in October when Pulavathil died in a motor vehicle collision near Estevan. Despite the loss, Gautham maintained his training schedule under rigorous conditions ahead of the provincial qualifying tournaments held in April.
“My father was really hooked on badminton,” Gautham told Radio-Canada. “He really liked that I played.”
Gautham secured the provincial championship title earlier this year, shifting his social standing among peers who were previously unfamiliar with him.
“After my win, everyone told me, ‘Hey, good job!’ Everyone started talking to me and becoming friends with me,” Gautham said.
That victory earned him a spot at the upcoming national tournament in New Brunswick. Ramdas described her son’s success as bittersweet given her husband’s absence.
“I am gradually catching up to all the dreams we nurtured,” Ramdas told Radio-Canada.
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