National glory for Tuba

The tournament Tuba was talking about was the 41st junior national carrom championship held at Varanasi earlier this month. After a nerve-wracking semi-final encounter,the final against Neelam Ghodke of Maharashtra was surprisingly easy. She won 17-13,17-2.

“Last year,I had failed at the final hurdle. Something was missing from my game and that was really affecting my performance. But this year,I spent a lot of time perfecting the art of caressing the striker with my siblings and my father,Mazhar Khan,and that helped me rectify the problem. My father had lots of expectations from me this time and I did not want to let him down. The nationals at Varanasi was my first tournament of the year and I was fresh and raring to go. Also,my game has improved in the last one year. Nevertheless,I am just happy to win my maiden junior national title and I am currently enjoying the feeling of being victorious,” she said. The Chandigarh boys’ and girls’ teams secured the third place in the boys’ and girls’ team championship.

Yes,victory is sweet,but it would have been sweeter had she settled some old scores with an opponent she wouldn’t mind meeting in every tournament: R Vinita of Tamil Nadu. Vinita was the same player who had defeated Tuba in the final of the junior nationals last year. This year she was looking to take on her but Vinita bowed out of the tournament in the pre-quarter-finals.

“I have imbibed few qualities from my siblings and my father,since they have so much experience. So,before a match,I sit alone for ten minutes and not let my concentration waver. I have also learned to keep my emotions in check,” she chuckled.

Growing stature

It is her competitive nature and her desire to excel that has earned her so many admirers. She is young,not even 15,and her skills have been termed prodigious.

In the recently concluded tournament,her siblings- sister Farheen,brother Irfan and cousin Mohammad Talib- were all competing but none provided a ray of hope- the hope of a medal- like she did. Her skills defy age categories,as she is good at sub-junior,junior and even the senior levels.

“She has a bright future and we have high expectations from her. She is very talented and she is determined and hardworking that will take her places. I am sure she will be part of the Indian team at the world championship,” said Mahesh Sekhri,general secretary,Chandigarh Carrom Association.

In December last year,Tuba has emerged runner-up in the girls’ singles category in the 40th Sub-Junior National and Inter-State Carrom Championship,held at Kolkata.

Now with the junior title under her belt,Tuba is looking forward to the first ever Junior World Carrom Championship to be held in India later this year. A total of six boys and six girls from India will form the national team for the event and Tuba is ready to give her best shot so that she can wear the Indian blue flannels.

“The trials will be held soon and I am looking forward to book a berth in the team. Also,the state-level carrom tournaments will start soon and that will keep me in rhythm,” said the Class VIII student of St Stephen’s School,Sector 45,Chandigarh.