Gaurav Khanna

Shri Gaurav Khanna (born 11 December 1975) is an Indian para-badminton team's head coach. Khanna has been widely recognized as the man behind the rise of para-badminton in the country. Khanna encountered several trials and tribulations during his youth and early life, but his desire propelled him onward, and despite all obstacles, he emerged as a selfless individual driven to make a positive difference in the lives of others. His chronicle of battles that led to him becoming a role model for society is also included in the National Geographic documentary series #One For Change and Samarth Series by Hundai in association with NDTV.

Awards and honours 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 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2025 6 6 11 23

Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2025 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2025 1 4 14 19 Spain Para Badminton International 2025 (Toledo) Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2025 7 4 10 21 Spain Para Badminton International 2025 (vitoria gasteiz) Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2025 7 4 10 21 Egypt Para Badminton International 2025 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2025 14 11 15 40 Barhain Para Badminton International 2024 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 3 7 19 29 Japan Para Badminton International 2024 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 6 9 9 24 Indonesia Para Badminton International 2024 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 6 6 9 21 Paris Paralympic 2024 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 1 2 2 5 Uganda Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 14 9 25 48 4 Nations Para Badminton International Level 1 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 3 7 4 14

Bahrain Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 4 6 11 21

Spanish Para Badminton International Level 1 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 5 5 7 17

Spanish Para Badminton International Level 2 Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 6 6 10 22

Para Badminton World Championship Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 3 4 11 18

Egypt Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2024 7 9 15 31

Dubai Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 1 5 8 14

Japan Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 4 4 10 18

Asian Para Games Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 4 4 13 21

Western Australia Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 5 6 9 20

4th Nations Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 3 5 10 18

Uganda Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 13 12 17 42

Canada Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 5 5 10 20

Bahrain Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 3 8 12 23

Thailand Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 4 4 8 16

Brazil Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 8 7 13 28

Spanish Para Badminton International(Level 1) Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 4 2 4 10

Spanish Para Badminton International(Level 2) Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2023 4 7 7 18

Para Badminton World Championship Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 2 2 12 16

Uganda Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 12 14 16 42

Indonesia Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 0 2 1 3

Thailand Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 4 5 8 17

Ireland Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 2 4 5 11

Canada Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 2 1 6 9

4thFazza Dubai Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 5 5 7 17

Bahrain Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 7 3 13 28

Brazil Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 8 7 13 28

Spanish Para Badminton International (Level 1) Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 5 6 9 20

Spanish Para Badminton International (Level 2) Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2022 11 7 16 34

Asian Youth Para Games Bahrain Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2021 4 7 4 15

Uganda Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2021 16 14 17 47

Tokyo Paralympics Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2021 2 1 1 4

Dubai Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2021 5 6 10 21

Peru Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2020 7 5 3 15

Brazil Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2020 4 5 2 11

Japan Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 2 1 4 7

Denmark Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 2 4 4 10

China Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 2 1 3 6

Thailand Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 3 4 6 13

Para Badminton World Championship Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 3 4 5 12

Irish Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 4 3 5 12

Canada Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 3 2 4 9

Uganda Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 11 8 8 27

Dubai Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 4 3 2 9

Turkish Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 3 5 3 11

IWAS world games Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2019 4 3 3 10

Australia Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 2 2 2 6

Denmark Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 3 0 3 6

Asian para games Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 3 0 6 9

Japan Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 1 1 2 4

Brazil Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 1 3 0 4

Thailand Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 2 1 3 6

Irish Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 0 1 1 2

Turkish Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 1 1 4 6

Uganda Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 4 3 3 10

Dubai Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 2 5 9 16

Spanish Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2018 2 1 3 6

Asian Youth Para Games Dubai Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2017 0 2 1 3

Para Badminton World Championship Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2017 2 2 6 10

Japan Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2017 2 3 3 8

USA Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2017 1 3 1 5

Uganda Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2017 5 6 4 15

Thailand Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2017 2 3 2 7

Spanish Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2017 0 0 2 2

Turkish Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2017 2 2 0 4

Indonesia Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2016 1 0 2 3

Irish Para Badminton International Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2016 0 2 5 7

Asian Para Badminton Championship Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2016 4 2 7 13

Para Badminton World Championship Year Gold Silver Bronze Total 2015 4 3 5 12

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.