For Mumbai's Deepali, it has not come as a surprise, who took the game of squash seriously just couple of years ago.

The Squash Rackets Federation of India yesterday named a four-member squad to represent India in the World Junior Squash Championship.

Besides Deepali Anvekar, Supriya Balsekar also of Mumbai will accompany Pia Abraham and Vaidehi Reddy (both from Chennai). Another girl from Mumbai -- Rhea Bhandare -- will be a part of the team as a reserve player.

``I was pleased but not surprised when I got the call to attend trials for Championships,'' said Deepali when asked her first reaction on receiving call.

She added, ``I was quite sure of my selection as I defeated all other girls in Chennai during thetrials.''

``And I am looking forward to play against the best of world. Honestly, I have no tension as I have not played them before. This is my first international tournament. And same goes for them. I think, I have 50-50 chances,'' said the swimmer turned athlete turned squash player.

Why she switched over from squash to swimming ?

``In India a swimmer lives a life till 15 or 16. And I was close to it. So I was just hitting the balls in the court to keep myself fit. Suddenly, I realised that I am hitting better than some seeded players. I thought of giving a serious attempt. It really worked for me,'' opines Deepali who represented Maharashtra state in swimming for continuously seven year and set many state records.

Deepali, who won the best sportswomen of the college consecutively for the second year feels that, ``Swimming provides a lot of stamina and athletics give you the required power and spirit to fight. It is must for any sport and game.''

She made a sensational debut in squash as she lostto Rhea Bhandare in the finals of the Cricket Club of India (CCI) Open tournament in 1995. But the very next year, She was advised to take a year off as she had to appear Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) exam.

Deepali, as ever, made a strong comeback the coming year. She reached finals of Junior National at New Delhi where she lost to Akansha Hazare (now settled in Hong Kong) in a gruelling five set match. ``I remember, I lost 10-8 in the fifth.'' But by the time, a new player was born in the form of Deepali.

No later her skills with the squash racket got recognition, she won a one-year sponsorship from Indian Squash Professionals (ISP) -- a Bombay based organisation promoting squash -- which included the services Chandrakant S Pawar, a professional coach; the playing kit and permission to play at Leela squash courts for the same year.

The State record holder in Shot Put (under-17) rates physical fitness at the top of basic requisite for a squash player. ``You have to stay at court and hit the ballhard in different courts (Air-conditioned (AC) and non A-C).

After a couple of seasons of serious squash, Deepali considers patience as her strong point. ``Initially I used to get frustrated on foul calls. Now, I see it a part of the game. And after all, you lose one point. But, you have the whole match to look forward,'' believes a genuine athlete.