From rallying in a lobby in Saharanpur to training under a world-class Russian coach in Guwahati, Divyam Arora’s badminton journey is far from ordinary. It’s a path filled with personal decisions, emotional sacrifices, and deep-rooted resilience proof that great athletes aren’t born in stadiums but shaped by struggle.
At just under 18, Divyam has already packed in the kind of experiences that most athletes face across an entire career schooling sacrifice, unexpected injuries, national selections, international coaching, and most recently, a high-stakes comeback after spinal surgery.
Humble Beginnings in Saharanpur
“I come from Saharanpur, a small town in Uttar Pradesh,” Divyam begins, describing a childhood filled with experimentation across sports from taekwondo and swimming to tennis. His father, once an avid tennis and table tennis player, encouraged his curious spirit, even if it meant switching passions every month.
The defining moment came with a casual request. “One day I asked my dad if I could try badminton. He challenged me to rally 20 times with my sister. We didn’t get there my sister messed up the rally but the argument that followed convinced him I was serious,” he laughs.
That moment led to his first coach Akash Kumar and soon, badminton became more than a game.
Education on Hold, Dreams in Motion
His passion grew quickly, but the pursuit came with tough choices. By the time Divyam reached Class 10, the COVID-19 pandemic had hit, and he passed without formal exams. That year, he chose badminton over academics, prioritizing European tournaments over board exams.
“I had to move to open schooling,” he says. “Missing two years in a row wasn’t an option, but I knew if I wanted to compete internationally, I had to travel, not sit for exams.”
It was a brave and mature decision one that showed he wasn’t playing it safe.
The Call from Hyderabad
Initially, he trained at Gopichand Academy’s satellite center in Greater Noida. But the pandemic hit that setup hard, and it closed. A pivotal call came from Siyadat Sir, a senior coach and a close associate of Pullela Gopichand.
“He asked if we’d consider coming to Hyderabad. It had always been our dream, so of course we said yes even though there was no hostel accommodation,” Divyam says.
Soon after, they received formal invites to train at the main Gopichand Academy in Hyderabad a turning point in his young career.
At the academy, Divyam trained with his best friend and doubles partner, Arsh. But an injury sidelined Arsh before an important tournament, and Divyam was paired with Mayank instead.
“We played really well,” he recalls. “Gopi Sir told the coaches to let us continue.” Gopi sir really supported him throughout his time in Gopichand academy, he says.
It was bittersweet. “Arsh and I were best friends. In tennis, you can change partners easily, but in badminton, chemistry matters. It hurt, but we accepted it.”
Shifting to Guwahati: The National Centre of Excellence
A few months later, Divyam took another leap moving to the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, a specialized hub for India’s top junior players.
“It’s only for under-15, 17, and 19. Once you’re in, you can grow into the senior setup, but you can’t enter as a senior. That structure helps keep focus on youth development.”
What excited him most? The opportunity to train under Ivan Sozonov, a former top 10 men’s doubles player from Russia.
Sozonov’s Method: A Global Playbook
Sozonov, known for his sharp tactical mind, brought a rare global perspective. “He doesn’t force a playing style on us,” Divyam explains. “He teaches us how Malaysians play, how Indonesians attack, how Koreans defend.”
“He’ll say, ‘Play like Indonesians today short, quick net play. Tomorrow, defend like the Danes.’ It’s not rigid coaching. He gives us a toolkit and helps us adapt to any opponent.”
That hybrid, analytical approach has had a transformative impact. “We’ve started seeing badminton like chess,” Divyam says. “You read the opponent. You make small moves. You adapt on the go.”
A Supportive Ecosystem
At Guwahati, each player gets individual attention. The coach-player ratio is ideal 4 players per coach. Ivan leads the program, assisted by Sanyam Shukla sir.
Divyam says “Sanyam bhaiya has been with us since the very first day we joined NCE Guwahati. He and Ivan sir don’t just want us to play well they want us to grow in life and become more responsible. He constantly shares his experiences, both in badminton and in life, and he’s always there for us taking care of us, scolding us, being tough when needed just so we can grow, not only as players but as people. And that, in turn, helps our badminton too.”
“On any court, the coach is focused on four players. So, everyone gets attention,” he says. “It’s not like big groups where players get lost.”
There’s also a dedicated coach for the girls’ batch, maintaining gender sensitivity in coaching.
State Representation and the Value of Sporting Governance
Despite now training outside his home state, Divyam still represents Uttar Pradesh. “I don’t play many state-level events anymore, but officially, I represent UP,” he says. “Some in the state association are very supportive. But others don’t understand how elite badminton works.”
Still, he insists most administrators mean well. “The intention is to support athletes but the understanding needs to improve.”
His strongest endorsement is for former players in administration. “They’ve lived it. They know the pain, the pressure, the mindset. They can help shape better policies.”
When Pain Becomes Purpose
But perhaps the most compelling chapter in Divyam’s story is also the most painful. He suffered a serious back injury, leading to spinal surgery a rare and risky procedure for a badminton player.
Credit Divyam IG
“In our sport, people usually get ACL tears, ankle injuries, or meniscus issues. Back injuries are rare and dangerous,” he says.
The injury forced him off the court for months, raising existential questions. “You begin to wonder if it’s all over,” he says. “You realize that if you’re not playing, the world forgets you. It’s only badminton that gives you that identity.”
Today, Divyam jokes that he’s “part Iron Man.” “I’ve got metal in my back and fire in my heart,” he laughs. “I’m back, and I’ve got new skills, more maturity, and clarity about why I’m doing this.”
He believes his injury was a life lesson. “It taught me that badminton isn’t everything but also that it’s the only thing that makes me feel alive.”
The Power of the Right Team
Divyam credits his comeback to two world-class support systems Dr. Abhay Nene, who performed the surgery, and the Reliance Foundation rehab team, which managed his recovery.
“I was rehabbing at Reliance. My head physio was Christopher Pedra , and the team Simoni, Arjun, Aashna, Shreyas & Tvisha were incredible.”
“They understood what an injured athlete goes through. I never felt alone. That mental support was crucial.”
His gratitude for Reliance is evident. “I got inducted into the foundation while I was injured. They saw potential not my injury. And they helped me get through the darkest phase of my life.”
Looking Up and Looking Ahead
He studies the global circuit carefully. “Malaysians are the toughest I’ve faced. In India, I look up to Satwik and Chirag. Internationally, I love Seo Seung Jae, he’s creative and adaptable.”
As for his dream? “To win the All England Open. That’s the tournament that makes legends.”
As someone who rose from a small town, Divyam’s message to upcoming players is simple. “Hard work has no substitute. And have faith there’s a bigger plan at work. Stick to your routine, keep showing up, and don’t stop believing.”
Final Serve
In a sport where players are often defined by rankings, Divyam is carving a legacy of resilience. He’s not just another athlete in the system he’s an example of what happens when ambition meets discipline, when setbacks are embraced, and when dreams are chased with everything you’ve got.
From Saharanpur’s modest streets to Guwahati’s elite training courts, Divyam’s journey proves that strength isn’t about avoiding injury or failure, it’s about showing up after both.
And with each smash, dive, and comeback, he’s not just building a career he’s building belief, for himself and for every small-town athlete daring to dream big.
