RUDRAPUR: Manoj Sarkar, disabled badminton player from Rudrapur has bagged two bronze medals in both men’s singles and doubles’ tournament at Hulic-Daihatsu international championship held this week in Tokyo, Japan. Sarkar who bagged gold in the Asian para-badminton championship held in Beijing last year had been in the news last month for alleging that despite being eligible for the Arjuna award, he was excluded from the list of disabled players who were being considered.The 27-year-old Asian para-badminton champion had in August alleged that despite being worthy of the coveted award, he was excluded of the list of disabled players considered for Arjuna. The shuttler left for Tokyo to take part in the international championship in Japan this week and made all the way to singles’ semi-finals but was defeated by Jeeta Fujihara of Japan in straight sets by 21-19 and 21-16. Talking to TOI, he said, “It was a tough match and the Japanese player played well on that day. Next year I will surely change the colour of my medal.”He partnered well with Suhas LY but the pair was defeated by Bobby Griffin and Daniel Bethal of England, who clinched gold with 21-16, 24-22.Sarkar’s mentor and president of Drona Badminton Academy, Vijay Ahuja of Rudrapur said, “Despite not being recognised by the government, he has won a laurel for the country again. We will be organising a felicitation ceremony for him in the city.”Manoj’s mother, Jamuna Sarkar, 56, said, “He lost his father in July this year but that didn’t deter him from performing well when time comes to represent the country. Even then the Arjuna award selection committee didn’t even consider him. Badminton is his passion and it means more than life for him. With God on his side, i believe that one day he will be rewarded for his services to the country.”

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