Inayat Gulati (14) has been selected for the sub-junior Indian badminton team, making her one of the youngest girls from Punjab to join the national squad. A Class IX student at Delhi Public School, she will represent India at the Asia Sub-Junior Badminton Championship in Chengdu, China from September 8 to 13.

Inayat is only the second girl from Jalandhar to enter the national team after Manya Ralhan in the junior category. She earned her spot by winning a silver medal in the under-15 mixed doubles event at the All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament in Bengaluru.

On her return, she was welcomed at the Ratti Badminton Academy, Doaba College, where she trains under former international players Sachin Ratti and Gagan Ratti.

Punjab Badminton Association honorary secretary Ritin Khanna presented her with a cheque of Rs 21,000 and pledged full support. “Gulati is a promising girl who has been following in the footsteps of star player Tanvi Sharma from Hoshiarpur. Her disciplined practice routine has helped her reach this level at an early age,” he said.

So far, Jalandhar has produced only three shuttlers who played internationally, including Sachin Ratti, Ram Lakhan and Manya Ralhan.

Inayat lives in Phagwara, where her parents run a business. Her mother, Shivani Gulati, said, “Be it summer, winter or rain, she wakes up at 4 am daily to reach Jalandhar for practice by 5 am. She returns home, eats, rests and heads for her second session. Online tuitions help her keep pace with schoolwork despite camps and tournaments.”

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