By Indasien LaKeisha Kharnaior
Shillong, Apr 9: To witness Raynell Kharbuki on the badminton court today is to see a study in the three Ds – Discipline, Dedication and Determination – the three words he uses to describe his relentless sport. But this formidable attitude wasn’t born from an Olympic podium; it was forged in the fire of a devastating defeat that nearly made him quit the sport entirely.
The journey began simply, coached by his father, after he saw his 11-year-old son’s talent in this sport. By the age of 11, he was clear this was more than recreation. In his very first tournament, the 2019 State Championship, which was held in Jowai, the young player, with only four months of practice, stunned everyone by reaching the semifinals. His father saw the potential, ambition and brilliant performance and the commitment was set.
Years of winning streaks, however, came to a sudden, painful halt in 2023-2024.
“I kept on winning and then I lost at the district level after many years of winning. I lost in the singles and I was distressed and discouraged. I wanted to quit this sport,” Raynell recalls.
Instead of gentle encouragement from his close ones, a dose of harsh reality forced him to look inward and self examine and the results were surprising. It sparked a defiant mental resolve. The negative thought of quitting was violently rejected. He decided he would never quit this sport, he would never give up.
This pivotal moment solidified his path, leading to a major breakthrough competing in the 2025 North East Badminton Championship.
The commitment required a complete overhaul of his routine. The shift to an elite level meant waking up at 4:30am for running and sprinting, followed by a tough, 8-set practice regimen.
To truly ascend, he recognised the need for external, professional guidance. After his success at the state level, he left home for the Anshuman Hazarika Badminton Academy in Bangalore, a move designed “to make myself better to compete in the National Championship.”
With the focus now entirely on excellence, Raynell balances the mental and physical demands by turning to other passions, football, swimming and hiking are his ways to physically and mentally unwind, allowing him to “turn off” the athlete brain. But even his relaxation is active.
Now, the biggest responsibility he feels is to his family, the very people whose tough words helped reset his course. His short-term goal for the next 12 months is clear and ambitious, to play well and win the National Championship and ultimately, to represent India at the Olympics or in other tournaments.
His dreams, however, are global. When asked about his ultimate venue, he doesn’t hesitate – the Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Malaysia for the World Championship, sharing a court along with badminton legend Lee Chong Wei. The list of dream titles is equally elite, like the World Championship, the Olympics and the All England Open.
His final message for any youngster just picking up a racquet is a clear echo of his own journey: “Work hard and never give up. When your body is drained, your mind must stay strong. Defeat the hardship and always listen to those who guide you.”
For a player defined by Discipline, Dedication and Determination, his story proves that sometimes a single loss can be the greatest encouragement for victory.
(The writer is a first semester MA student of Journalism and Mass Communication at the English and Foreign Languages University, Shillong)
