Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Dribbling right
|
After relay and high jump laurels Amita Jaiswal now proves to be a high scorer on the basketball court
|
HAVING A BALL Amita Jaiswal
In April and May this year, the Secunderabad YMCA conducted its annual summer coaching camps. As usual the focus was on basketball, but the entry of a little-built girl went unnoticed. Coaches B. Ravinder and Shabuddin put the young boys and girls through the grind. A specialist at spotting talent, Ravinder saw the spark in Amita Jaiswal. In next to no time, she was all over the court, weaving a web around much taller forwards. Barely she had a month's training before they fielded her for the Andhra Pradesh state junior inter district basketball championships at Jagtial, Karimnagar.
If one thought she would be the nervous novice, rivals were in for a rude shock. Also not one to let down her mentors, Amita proved a real handful for the rival defenders. Having been a sprinter earlier, her court coverage couldn't be matched. So were her anticipation and positioning splendid.
Through drive-ins, she would dismantle defences and unleash her pet lay-up shots to score time and again. From the 45 angle too, she proved a high scorer, pumping up 15 points in the final for Hyderabad against Kurnool. Her performance being so eye-catching, she had sealed a place for herself in the state squad for the junior National at Ludhiana, Punjab.
Although she excels as a forward, her scheming can be pretty clever too. In the flash of an eye, she can change course, directing the attack to the inconspicuous corners with one-handed or chest passes. In Amita's own estimation, her dribble needs working on.
Her sports links began in St. George's Grammar school, which she represented with distinction at the state level initially. Over the years, she competed for Andhra Pradesh too, claiming a 4 x 100 m relay silver at Lucknow and the high jump bronze in her hometown of Hyderabad.
While in school, Amita was also a member of the state squad that won the junior National Korfball championships at Una, Himachal Pradesh in 2004. She was also instrumental in securing the Federation Cup triumph by the end of the same year. Confident and strong-willed, her enthusiasm for all things sporting found her in the march past for the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad.
Groomed mostly by Ravinder and Shabuddin, he also credits coaches/officials/referees Sachin, Santosh, Yesudas, Prem, Reddy and Venkatesh for her growth in basketball. Her sporting achievements have earned her a fee waiver at Kasturba Gandhi College, where she will pursue her B. Com degree. She hasn't forgotten the encouragement she received from the Ratna Junior College at Narayanguda.
A. JOSEPH ANTONY
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
