Differently-abled student from Pune all set to play at International para Badminton tournament

Pune: Where there is a will, there is a way. This 21-year-old Sukant Kadam, a third year student of mechanical engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Avsari proves just that. Kadam has turned his physical disability, to his play to his advantage.
Sukant, a badminton player, has bagged a ticket to the International Para Badminton Championship, 2014 in England that will be held between June 24 and 29. He is one of the four national-level sports persons to be selected for the championship.
"My left leg is disabled, but, I was keen on badminton and started playing during my school days. However, after getting into engineering, I received coaching from the trainers in the college," he said.
Sukant's coach, Bharat Bhosale from the engineering college provided him with professional training, after observing the talent in him, and started encouraging him to participate in tournaments meant for disabled sport persons.
"Till date, I have won four gold medals, including one at 9th National Games for disabled, Chennai in 2013 and became one of the first five rankers in the country," said Sukant, who hails from the drought-ridden Atpadi taluka is Sangali.
The apex body for badminton players with disability, Badminton Sports Association of India for Challenged, selected Sukant for his consistent performance and decided to send him to Leicestershire, England.
Dr Pandit Shelke, the Director of Board of Students' Welfare, University of Pune, said that since a part expense of the tour is incurred by the candidate, the varsity has decided to offer help of Rs15,000 . Sukant is also getting monetary support from his own college as well as from some NGOs in the city.