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15 October 2013| last updated at 11:50PM

Gagan ready to fill Chong Wei's shoes

By S. SOLOMON SAMUEL | nstsport@nst.com.my

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UP-AND -COMING: Young shuttler aims to do nation prou

SEREMBAN: GAGAN Jit Singh Maan goes gaga over Lee Chong Wei and he hopes to be as successful as his idol.

The Form One student of SMK Mantin, Negri Sembilan, has been in smashing form this year.

He won gold in the team event at the Negri Sembilan Schools' High Performance Sports (SHPS) Badminton Championships in September.

Gagan is now busy preparing for the national-level SHPS meet in Kangar from Oct 27 to Nov 1, where he will compete in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

"Since I was eight, I love to watch Lee Chong Wei in action on television at the Olympics, Thomas Cup and All England Championships. Like my idol, my ultimate aim is to represent our country one day."

Gagan started playing badminton competitively in 2009 at the age of nine.

In 2011, Gagan partnered Lim Ming Sern to become the boys' Under-12 doubles bronze medallist at the Seremban One District Schools Sports Council (MSSDS1) tournament.

Last year they improved by finishing second in the boys' Under-12 doubles at the MSSDS1 meet.

Gagan was also the boys' Under-12 singles bronze medallist at the Negri Sembilan Indian Badminton Championships.

The 13-year-old has learned to balance his badminton and studies well, training on the court from 4pm to 6pm and doing his homework at night.

He trains four days a week at Sun City at Seremban Two under coach Hoo Kim Long.

Gagan said: "I have a strong smash and a strong backhand but I am training hard to polish up my other areas. My father, Ranjit Singh Maan, mother Amarjeet Kaur and elder brothers Ravinder and Kelvinder encourage me a lot to play badminton."

Gagan Jit Singh Maan with the gold medal and a certificate after winning the team event at the Negri Sembilan Schools’ High Performance Sports (SHPS) Badminton Championships in September.

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