Rejected at home, Himachal's Shabad Gautam makes it to national team through Punjab

Two years back, the then 13-year-old volleyball player Shabad Gautam was denied admission to any of the sports hostels in the state due to his “short height”. He was, however, selected for Sports Authority of India (SAI) hostel in Sangrur, Punjab, the same year.

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Two years later, Shabad has made it to the U-16 India team that will participate in the 2nd U-16 Asian Volleyball Championship in Thailand, where India will play their first match tomorrow.

“We were absolutely shattered when he was not selected by any sports hostel in the state. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us. Maybe, he wouldn’t have progressed so much if he was picked here,” said Pankaj Gautam, Shabad’s father.

Pankaj said his son had become the first international volleyball player in any age category from Bilapsur, and the first from the state to make it to the U-16 national team.

Despite the achievement of his son, Pankaj is still a little sore at the rejection of his son in the home state. “The coaches told me that my son was short in height, and asked me to bring him for trials the next year. I feel height should not be such a stringent criteria for a 12-13 year old kid if is he’s good, especially if he plays as a libero,” said Gautam.

“Thankfully, SAI coaches gave more weightage to his skill than height, and groomed him into an India player,” he said.