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Striking it big

The success story of three young girls

PHOTO: M. MOORTHY

ENGROSSED Promising players (from left): J.Swarna, M.Aparna and K.Shamini

What is pleasing about these young paddlers is that they have effectively started to use the experience they got at the junior level as a launch pad for their success in the senior circuit.

Meet the trio K. Shamini, M. Aparna and J. Swarna, who are giving their best to make a mark for themselves in the sport.

Strong basics

No doubt, they have got their basics right and that's evident from their performances both at the national and international level junior competitions. Their aim now is to improve their game speed and equip themselves to play a more attacking game at high speed rallies, a key aspect to succeed at the senior level.

Among the three, Shamini, the no.3 ranked player in the country is aware of the standard of international competition as she secured a bronze at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Australia in team event. "They play table tennis at a different level and the players start attacking right from the word go. Winning a medal there was indeed prestigious," says Shamini.

Crucial role

The Table Tennis Federation of India has also played a crucial role helping these players shine at higher levels by improving coaching standards. "The trainers have helped us a lot by correcting some of the technical aspects of our game. I feel that there is not much of a difference between them and a foreign coach. It is up to the players to concentrate and improve their game," says Shamini, who has won National ranking title (south and east zones) this year.

On the other hand, M. Aparna, who lost the title to Shamini at the recently concluded N.C. Roy Memorial State ranking Table Tennis Tournament at Dalmiapuram, is working hard to be ranked among the top players in the country. A State champion last year, she feels the greatest challenge is to compete with totally unknown and unfamiliar players. "Since we play against the same paddlers regularly at the tournaments conducted here, it is easy to judge the strength and weakness of their game. But the real test is when we compete against players, whose style of game is totally new to us. In that case we need to play extremely well to score a win," says Aparna, who won silver in team event at the World Junior circuit in Hungary in 2002.

Another promising talent from the State is Swarna.

Ranked among the top 12 in the country, she has been a consistent performer at different levels.

Though having done well in doubles event — a gold in doubles and mixed doubles at the SAF games 2005 for juniors — Swarna wants to take up singles more seriously and feels there is always scope for improvement in her game.

"There is not much of a recognition for doubles. Moreover I have always aspired to make it big in singles," she says.

G. PRASAD

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