Name of the sportsperson: Valiyaveetil Diju

Discipline: Badminton

Date of Birth: 04-01-1981

State: Kozhikode, Kerala Achievements and Awards:

•    Won Bronze Medal in Commonwealth Games in 2006.

•    World Badminton Championship in 2009.

•    Won Grand Prix Gold Title in 2009.

•    World Super Series Masters in 2009.

Profile:

Valiyaveetil Diju did his schooling in Govt. Model Boys School, Thrissur. He completed his graduation from Farook College, Calicut. This national badminton player is working as HR Manger in ONGC, Chennai at present.

In August 2009, the Diju-Jwala mixed doubles pair became the first Indians to enter the quarterfinals of World Badminton Championship. The Championships was held at Hyderabad, India. The duo, seeded 8th, got a bye in the first round followed by a walkover in the second. In the third round they defeated 12th seed polish pair of Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Kostiuczyk 21-11 22-20 in a 31-minute clash. In the quarterfinal they went down to defending champions and second seeds Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir of Indonesia. The Indian pair was beaten 16-21, 14-21 in 27 minutes. On 30 August 2009, Diju partnering Jwala Gutta became the first Indian badminton mixed doubles pair to win a Grand Prix Gold title.

In December 2009, Diju and his doubles partner Jwala reached the World Super Series Masters final in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. They beat Robert Mateusiak and Nadieżda Kostiuczyk of Poland in straight-games 21-19 21-11. In the final the Indian pair went down to World Championship bronze medallists Christinna Pedersen and Joaquim Nielsen 21-14, 21-18.

By Indian Sports News