Inspiring Journey from Badminton Court to Indian Police Service: The Story of Kuhoo Garg
Inspiring Journey from Badminton Court to Indian Police Service: The Story of Kuhoo Garg
Following a career-altering injury, Kuhoo Garg shifted her focus from badminton to the UPSC, securing AIR 178 and joining the IPS.
Dehradun native and accomplished badminton player Kuhoo Garg has shown that setbacks can often become stepping stones to greater achievements. After a knee injury sidelined her sports career, she dedicated herself to preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams, eventually earning the 178th rank in 2023 and joining the Indian Police Service (IPS).
Kuhoo’s passion for badminton began at the age of nine, a pursuit encouraged by her parents. Her father, Ashok Kumar, a former Director General of Police (DGP) in Uttarakhand, and her mother, Alaknanda Ashok, an academic at Pantnagar University, both have a strong interest in sports. With their support, Kuhoo went on to win over 17 national and international medals, including a gold medal at the 2019 South Asian Games and a silver at the National Championship that same year. She also reached the quarter-finals at the 2018 World Championship and won 56 national (All India Ranking) and 19 international medals, excelling in women’s doubles and mixed doubles categories.
However, her athletic journey came to a halt when she suffered a serious knee injury that required surgery and extensive bed rest. Despite the setback, Kuhoo found new purpose and began preparing for the UPSC exam. During her recovery, she received support from her friend, Narayani Bhatia, who was also preparing for the civil services exam and eventually secured the 45th rank, joining the IAS.
Kuhoo’s dedication paid off in 2023, when she cleared the UPSC exam with an impressive rank and chose to join the IPS, inspired by her father’s legacy and her desire to serve the public. Her father noted that she is the first Indian player to clear the UPSC exam while actively competing for Team India, a feat that highlights her determination.
Throughout her journey, Kuhoo trained under renowned coaches like Dr. DK Sen and Pullela Gopichand, who also coached badminton champion Saina Nehwal. With her success in both sports and academics, Kuhoo Garg’s story is an inspiring testament to resilience, hard work and the ability to turn life’s challenges into new opportunities.
