Two national-level badminton players of Pune died in a car accident on Sunday, whereas, the third is in a critical condition. The three players were identified as Saurabh Paralikar (23), Siddhant Ghorpade (21) and Devavrat Bhalerao (20). They were driving in an Indica at night when the driver lost control and crashed into a nearby tree, killing Saurabh Paralikar and Siddhant Ghorpade on the spot. The accident happened at around 1:30 am, near the Balewadi Sports Complex on the Mumbai-Bangalore Expressway.
Saurabh Paralikar was a representative of the Indian Universities team at the World University Games held in Australia. He was a qualified MBA and worked at a private company in Pune. Paralikar was an active player at the state as well as the national level. He was among the top 10 under-19 shuttlers in India and had performed well in the State Senior Badminton Championship at Jalgaon and Maharashtra Masters tournament held in Pune last year. Siddhant Ghorpade was a former junior Maharashtra player and older brother of Sanyogita, the international woman shuttler.
Devavrat Bhalerao has been badly injured and is admitted at Birla Hospital located in Chinchwad. According to doctors he is out of danger; however, has multiple fractures in his left hand and leg.
Uday Sane, Secretary, Poona District and Metropolitan Badminton Association, said “We are absolutely shocked. It's the darkest day for Pune badminton. It is very unfortunate to lose two quality players. We are hoping Bhalerao will come back from the dangerous accident.”
Pradeep Gandhe, former Indian player and President of Maharashtra Badminton Association, currently in Macau for the Thomas and Uber Cup with the Indian badminton team, is also completely shocked. He said it was a huge loss to Pune and the Maharashtra badminton community. He further added “The MBA family joins these grieved families in this period of grief."
Devavrat Bhalerao had been a part of the 'Flamboyant Flamingos' team that participated in the Maharashtra Badminton League, held for the first time in 2011. However, after this accident it is unclear if he will be able to play badminton.
Tom Thomas, Nagpur District champion, said "I was stunned when I got to know the sad news in the morning. I have played with all of them and they all were very good players. In fact, Bhalerao was my teammate in the MBL. I pray to God that he recovers fast."
