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JUNIOR SQUASH: Sanya Vats takes giant strides in squash

Daughter of army officer, Haryana girl makes it to under-19 national final

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Sanya Vats in action in Jaipur on Friday
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Reaching the final of the girls U-19 of the sub-junior/junior squash national championships is an icing on the cake for Sanya Vats of Haryana as far as her achievements in 2018 are concerned.

Daughter of an army officer and a sportsman, Sanya has natural affinity for sports. After trying her hand at horse riding and badminton, the 17-year-old finally settled for squash.

Although Sanya does not have any definite answer as to why she picked up a squash racquet, her career graph shows that she made the right choice.

"I enjoy being on the squash court and have decided that I will just concentrate and play this sport," Sanya said.

In a short span of time, Sanya, who began playing squash in 2014, has become a name to reckon with on the international and national squash circuit.

Trained by Dhruv Dhawan and former national champion Bhuvneshwari Kumari, the hard-working Sanya started taking giant strides in the glass four walls of squash court.

Bhuvneshwari said she has been impressed by the hard work and dedication of Sanya.

"Being a southpaw gives Sanya a little advantage over her opponents as there are very few left-handers on the circuit," said Kumari.

Sanya's hard work of more than three years has started paying dividends as in 2018, she won bronze medal at the Asian Junior squash championships in Chennai and at the same venue she was adjudged the best Indian player in the World Junior championships.

Another feather in her cap this year was three major titles in the girls under-17 category. Last year at the national junior championships in Ajmer, she was third in her age group.

The progress she has made in just a year can be gauged from the fact that on Saturday she will be facing Jannia Singh, who has played World Junior Championship, in the clash for under-19 crown.

Parents Col Sarvesh Sharma and Samir Sharma say they never tried to force Sanya to pick up any particular sport, adding that it was her choice to play squash.

Col Sharma said, "I have played squash, badminton. So, sports was already in the family. Sanya tried many games but finally decided that she wants to play squash."

The Sharmas are aware that squash is struggling in the country but they feel that things are improving as in the recently-concluded Asian Games in Jakarta, both Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik brought a bronze each for the country.

So, what is next for her after the junior final? Sanya said, "Whether I win or lose in the final does not matter as my focus is on the Asian junior championships, which will be held in Pattaya, Thailand."

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