Business as usual for Utkarsh

“When I first started playing,I would play for fun,when older players would play me they would think since I was small,I was an easy match. And to their shock,I would defeat them. Now I am the top ranked player and there is so much pressure to live up to expectations,” he says before describing the dread he felt in the US Open when ironically he himself took the 10-year-old,Kanak Jha lightly and dropped the first set.

Having chosen the life of a sportsman,Utkarsh misses out on being a regular teenager. He abhors snacks,and loathes cricket. Ever since he entered the 8th standard at Hansraj Model School,Punjabi Bagh this year,Utkarsh has been increasingly home schooled. With upwards of five hours of practice daily and tournaments throughout the year — his next tournament,the Asian Juniors begins in a fortnight — Utkarsh attends classes only six or seven days a month.

Home schooling
Utkarsh’s father,himself a former player at the national level,says that such sacrifices are a must in order to succeed. “In a year he as 120 non tournament days when he can complete his studies. He gets specialised home tuition for English,Maths and Science and his school is lenient with his timings.”

When Utkarsh describes his travels abroad,he describes his journey to match venues. “I don’t like sightseeing. Once I finish my games,I go back to the hotel and prepare for the next game.” With much of his time spent on the road,away from school,Utkarsh says he has perhaps two or three friends in his age group. “I don’t talk about movies or games. I connect with people I have a common interest with”. He spends most of his time and is most comfortable with fellow TT players,184 of whom he is ‘friends’ with on Facebook.

Utkarsh though sometimes allows himself a distraction. “I love cars,” he says even as his brother Parth who shares none of his passion for the sport plays happily with his remote controlled bump’n’go toy.

However his fascination for wheeled wonders took over once again when he was in Grand Rapids Michigan for the US Open tournament. While others would describe the Grand river and the scenic Black mountains,Utkarsh with his eyes lighting up says” The view outside my hotel window was amazing. There was a car park with so many nice cars. After the matches I would look at the cars and every day there would be something new to see.”