In the under-14 throwball final, Gopal Sharma Memorial School could not get past their rivals Lokhandwala Foundation and their captain Tejaswi Aasi could not help but run to their school bus to find solace. All the players followed her, but soon Tejaswi was back on the ground to enjoy their second place finish with her team-mates. Later the 14-year-old reveals, “I’m very emotional on the court and cry most of the times, but this time I had made up my find to remain tough and had just gone to take my jacket from the bus. I was not crying”.

Their coach Neela Shirsekar explains, “This is what team work is. Though she is the best in the team, the other members also play an important role. They know her significance but at the same time Tejaswi is aware that other players also helped her to make it to the finals”.

In their closely knit team, Tejaswi standing at 5’ 8” in her socks, is not only tall in stature but also in deeds. Single-handedly she went for all the balls and her top spin service left her opponents awestruck. She showed plenty of dedication towards winning by going for the ball all over the court and sometimes sat and then pushed the ball over the other side of the net.

Tejaswi’s very stride on the court oozed confidence and she tried to instil the same amount of enthusiasm and confidence in her team-mates. “I’ve got working parents and have been independent for a long time,” points out the girl, who spends her free time by excelling in other sports like handball (two time national), football, cricket, badminton, tennis, table tennis and basketball.

The class nine student could not go for the Jaipur nationals last year as her mother wanted her to concentrate on her studies.But as her grades went up, she is back where her heart is. They reached the handball and throwball finals. Next year she feels that she can help her school win the title.

The other player who matters most to the team is Sunita Upadhaya. This diminutive 13-year-old can be seen standing in one corner, away from the prying eyes of the world. But once on the court, she transforms from a shy girl into an aggressive player from whom one cannot take one’s eyes off. Though the shortest in the side, Sunita was the only one who represented Maharashtra in the junior nationals at Bangalore.

Her interest lies in throwball and handball and though barely four feet tall she says, “It has never crosses my mind that I’m short until I see Tejaswi going for a smash.” Her swift game of catch and throw impressed her instructor Priyadarshana Devi Padwal. “Though she is short, she has one of the best footwork,” points out Padwal.

Sunita’s parents are proud of her today, but it was just a year back when her coach gave her short pants to wear. “I felt a little awkward at that time, but now I’m used to it,” states Sunita.