Zhakuo Seyie, who clinched Silver Medal at a recently concluded badminton championship APACS Kazakhstan Future Series 2023 held at Kazakhstan, was accorded a warm welcome by his family members and friends at Dimapur Airport on Saturday. The tournament was sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Asia (BA).
Interacting with media, Seyie attributed his success to the unwavering love and support from his family and friends. He also expressed gratitude for the blessings received from God.
The championship took place in Kazakhstan from May 29 to June 3, where Seyie secured the Silver Medal in the Men’s Open Category.
It may be noted that participation in this tournament required a national level ranking, and Seyie, holds the 50th position in the Badminton Association of India (BAI) rankings.
Reflecting on his journey, Seyie shared that the opportunity to represent the country on an international platform was a significant honor, however lamented on the absence of sponsorship or support from the state government.
He revealed that he had previously held the title of state champion in Nagaland, however after acquiring No Objection Certificate (NOC), he made a strategic move to Maharashtra, where he currently stood at 3rd position after participating in the Maharashtra State Tournament.
Explaining his shift from Nagaland to Maharashtra, Seyie highlighted on the increased opportunities and exposure to international competition he received playing for Maharashtra. On the badminton scenario in the state, Seyie expressed “optimism tempered with realism”.
While Nagaland has an ample number of Badminton stadiums, he lamented on the challenges in terms of mental clarity, support systems, and physical conditioning. He also spoke on the limited investment in the sport, which hindered aspiring players from pursuing badminton as a serious individual endeavor.
Badminton being amongst the most popular sport in the state, he expressed hope that there would be more player to represent the country and bring laurels for the state and the country as a whole.