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Rio 2016: For debutant Prarthana Thombare, berth is reward for sacrifices

For the shy 22-year-old from Barshi in Solapur, who will partner Sania Mirza in women's doubles, the Rio ticket is a reward for hard work and sacrifices that she and her family had to undergo.

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India's tennis contingent has two extremes. On the one hand, you have Leander Paes appearing in his seventh successive Olympics, and on the other, there's Prarthana Thombare, who will be making her debut at the Games next month in Rio.

For the shy 22-year-old from Barshi in Solapur, who will partner Sania Mirza in women's doubles, the Rio ticket is a reward for hard work and sacrifices that she and her family had to undergo.

"When I got selected for the Olympics, everything flashed back. All the dedication and sacrifices that I and my family went through. I am really happy, excited and looking forward to it," Thombare told dna in a recent interaction.

"In each player's life come patches and difficult times. There are times when you achieve (special) things. We are ready to take up the responsibility and try to put our best foot forward."

Mirza may have formed a formidable partnership with Switzerland's Martina Hingis in the professional circuit, but it is Thombare who has been Mirza's partner when it comes to representing the tri-colour. The two paired to win the 2014 Asian Games bronze medal. Was she sure that Mirza would choose her and not anybody else for the Olympics?

"I have been performing well. The doubt was at the back of my mind but I was a strong contender for Olympics. It is a very great feeling. Each player, doesn't matter which sport, dreams to participate at the Olympics. This is a very big opportunity. It will boost my confidence. I will be under a lot of seniors and I'm looking forward to learning a lot from them," said Thombare, ranked 198th in doubles and 601st in singles.

Thombare is in awe of Paes's impressive Olympic record. "It is a great achievement to be participating in the seventh Olympics. It is massive. I will be interacting with him for the first time. I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him," she said.

Thombare trains at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy in Hyderabad and has been roped in by Indian Oil, one of the 10 sportspersons from the organisation at Rio 2016.

"It is always a great feeling when you are representing the country. I have played in three Fed Cups and also the Asian Games. Olympics is a different league, it is such a big stage. I'm trying to focus on my training right now," she said.

It is natural for athletes, especially first-timers, to get overawed by the occasion as big as the Olympics. But Thombare is focussed on her game. "I don't think it should be a distraction. You have worked all your life for this Olympic qualification. And, when you have finally achieved your dream and when you get a chance to represent your country at such a big stage, you want to focus on your game and not think about anything else," she said.

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