Gaurav Khanna (badminton)

National Awards • 2024 - Padma Shri • 2020 - Dronacharya Award State Awards • 2024 - LMA Transformation Leadership Award • 2024 - PC Indian Achievers Award • 2016 - Yashi Bharti Award • 2017 - Guru Gobind Singh Award Other Awards • 2020 - TAL Hero Award • 2022 - Stambh Award • 2021 - Bravery Award • 2019 - Best Individual Working For the Cause of PWD • 2018 - Outstanding Services Award • 2024 - Apporva Samman He is first Para Sports Coach of the country to be conferred with Padma Shree Award 2024. In 2020, he became the first Para Sports Coach in the country to be honored with Dronacharya Award for his exceptional contribution to para badminton. ==Coaching career==

He established the country's first Para Badminton academy namely, Gaurav Khanna Excellia Badminton Academy. The Indian Para Badminton team has won a total of 1021 medals (276 golds, 287 silvers, and 458 bronzes) in BWF-recognized international tournaments since 2015, following his nomination as Head National Coach. These competitions include the Asian Para Games, World Championships, and Tokyo Paralympics. Many of his trainee athletes are among the best in the world and have won the nation's greatest athletic honors. He has coached Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj Abu Hubaida, Palak Kohli, Chirag Baretha, and Prem Kumar Ale. ==Medal Tally of Indian Para Badminton Team==

The Indian Para Badminton Team, under guidance and training of Para coach Shri Gaurav Khanna, has won the following medal. Barhain Para Badminton International 2025 Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2025 Spain Para Badminton International 2025 (Toledo) Spain Para Badminton International 2025 (vitoria gasteiz) Egypt Para Badminton International 2025 Barhain Para Badminton International 2024 Japan Para Badminton International 2024 Indonesia Para Badminton International 2024 Paris Paralympic 2024 Uganda Para Badminton International 4 Nations Para Badminton International Level 1 Bahrain Para Badminton International Spanish Para Badminton International Level 1 Spanish Para Badminton International Level 2 Para Badminton World Championship Egypt Para Badminton International Dubai Para Badminton International Japan Para Badminton International Asian Para Games Western Australia Para Badminton International 4th Nations Para Badminton International Uganda Para Badminton International Canada Para Badminton International Bahrain Para Badminton International Thailand Para Badminton International Brazil Para Badminton International Spanish Para Badminton International(Level 1) Spanish Para Badminton International(Level 2) Para Badminton World Championship Uganda Para Badminton International Indonesia Para Badminton International Thailand Para Badminton International Ireland Para Badminton International Canada Para Badminton International 4thFazza Dubai Para Badminton International Bahrain Para Badminton International Brazil Para Badminton International Spanish Para Badminton International (Level 1) Spanish Para Badminton International (Level 2) Asian Youth Para Games Bahrain Uganda Para Badminton International Tokyo Paralympics Dubai Para Badminton International Peru Para Badminton International Brazil Para Badminton International Japan Para Badminton International Denmark Para Badminton International China Para Badminton International Thailand Para Badminton International Para Badminton World Championship Irish Para Badminton International Canada Para Badminton International Uganda Para Badminton International Dubai Para Badminton International Turkish Para Badminton International IWAS world games Australia Para Badminton International Denmark Para Badminton International Asian para games Japan Para Badminton International Brazil Para Badminton International Thailand Para Badminton International Irish Para Badminton International Turkish Para Badminton International Uganda Para Badminton International Dubai Para Badminton International Spanish Para Badminton International Asian Youth Para Games Dubai Para Badminton World Championship Japan Para Badminton International USA Para Badminton International Uganda Para Badminton International Thailand Para Badminton International Spanish Para Badminton International Turkish Para Badminton International Indonesia Para Badminton International Irish Para Badminton International Asian Para Badminton Championship Para Badminton World Championship ==GKEHPC ==

The GKEHPC (Gaurav Khanna Excellence High Performance Center) features six world-class courts, including four synthetic courts and two wooden courts, providing athletes with an ideal environment to refine their skills and elevate their game. The center also includes a fully equipped gym, allowing athletes to build strength and improve performance under expert supervision. A dedicated wellness area enables athletes to recover and rejuvenate, offering facilities such as sauna baths, steam baths, and ice baths, which are essential for post-training relaxation and muscle recovery. Additionally, a specialized physiotherapy room ensures that athletes receive high-quality medical care and rehabilitation support, helping prevent injuries and maintain peak physical condition. GKEBA has been awarded with "BEST ACADEMY AWARD" by The Radient Differently Abled Sports Award, 2023. The GKEHPC is dedicated to differently abled athletes, where all categories of athletes, including Polio affected, hearing impaired, accidental injured, injured army personnel in wheelchairs, dwarfs, neuro damaged athletes, and others, not only practice together for free, but also receive education under the dome of Excellia School and Galgotias University. These athletes stay in Shri Gaurav Khanna's house in Omaxe City, Lucknow. This residence is also known as the "Drona Paralympic House" among para athletes. ==Professional Life==

Shri Khanna has diverse credentials in Badminton. Other than being an established high-performance coach, Shri Khanna is a Qualified International Umpire and Qualified International Referee of Badminton Asia, having travelled throughout the world to officiate and represent the country in over 100 international sporting events. At several national and international multisport events in India and abroad, Shri Khanna has held positions as Competition Director, Competition Manager, Live Scorer, Match Controller, and Technical Official. ==Personal life==

It is widely recognized that Shri Gaurav Khanna has played a significant role in the development of para badminton in the country. Born on 11 December 1975, he experienced challenges in his early life. Despite these difficulties, he remained committed to his work and focused on supporting others. His experiences are featured in the National Geographic documentary series #One For Change, which highlights his journey and the factors that influenced his path. He has contributed to the promotion of sports for persons with disabilities and has been involved in their progression from grassroots levels to international events such as the Deaflympics and Paralympics, working in roles including coach, technical official, organizer, and advisor. Shri Khanna has completed his education from KVS, RDSO, Lucknow, received his B.COM degree (1995), Bachelor of Physical Education degree (1996), Diploma in Yoga (1998) from Lucknow University as well as NIS-Badminton (2010) and Master Trainers in Sports and Games for the Disability (2011) from SAI Bangalore and LNIPE, Gwalior respectively. == References ==