Ludhiana's emerging badminton talent, Lakshay Sharma, is steadily carving a niche for himself on both national and international platforms, showcasing remarkable progress in rankings and accumulating an impressive array of achievements. Born in 2005, this young athlete has already secured the fourth position in India within the men's singles category, as per the latest rankings released by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
Global Recognition and Olympic Aspirations
On the world stage, Lakshay currently holds a ranking of 120, having previously reached a career-high of 112 earlier this same year. His ultimate ambition, as he openly shares, is to clinch an Olympic medal for India, a dream that fuels his rigorous training and competitive spirit.
Father-Coach and Training Challenges
Lakshay's journey in badminton began at the tender age of seven, under the sole guidance of his father, Mangat Sharma, who is a qualified NIS coach. According to Mangat Rai Sharma, the path has been fraught with challenges, as Lakshay has advanced without the benefit of sponsorship, institutional backing, or access to international training facilities.
Mangat expressed pride in his son's achievements, noting that being ranked among India's top four players and attaining a world ranking of 112 are strong indicators of Lakshay's immense potential. At just 20 years old, Lakshay has now entered the senior men's singles category, which includes all players above the age of 20, and his father hopes he will continue to excel in this competitive arena.
The Sponsorship Dilemma
However, the only discouraging aspect, as Mangat points out, is that despite these impressive rankings and representing Ludhiana at national and international levels, Lakshay still does not receive any sponsorship to support his training or expenses. Mangat fervently hopes that his son will achieve his dream of playing in the Olympics and eventually gain the recognition and financial support he rightfully deserves.
Notable Achievements Across Levels
Lakshay's career is distinguished by numerous accomplishments spanning district, state, national, and international competitions. In university events, he won a gold medal in the team event at the Khelo India University Games 2023 held in Guwahati. Additionally, he secured a bronze medal in men's singles at the All India Inter University competition held in Indore in 2024.
International Successes
His international accolades include a bronze medal at the Cameroon International Challenge 2025 and another bronze at the Czech International Future Series 2025. He also earned a silver medal at the APACS Kazakhstan International Series 2023.
Representing India, Lakshay competed in the main draw at the Azerbaijan International 2024 in men's singles. Earlier, he had represented the country in the final draw at the Sydney International 2022.
National and State-Level Honors
At the national level, Lakshay won a silver medal at the All India Sub Junior National Ranking Badminton Tournament held in Manipur in 2019. In 2017, he secured a gold medal in the doubles category at the All India Sub Junior National Ranking Tournament in Tamil Nadu. He has also participated in the Senior National Badminton Championships 84 and 86 held in Bangalore and Pune, respectively, and has garnered various medals in the Punjab State Senior Championships.
Balancing Academics and Sports
Currently, Lakshay is a fifth-semester Bachelor of Arts student. He emphasizes that he is diligently working to balance his academic responsibilities with his sporting commitments, managing his expenses for the time being. However, he adds that if he qualifies for the Olympic trials, he will urgently require sponsorship to support this critical phase of his career, highlighting the ongoing need for financial assistance in his pursuit of excellence.
