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Journalism of Courage
Written by Neha Rathod
In a town known for farming and kabaddi, a teenager has taken squash beyond walls and screens to the national squad. In Kalamb, a modest farming town near Osmanabad in Maharashtra, 14-year-old Vasundhara Nangare has rewritten the sporting script.
Today, she’s India’s No. 1 under-15 squash player and an under-17 All-India champion—achievements born from YouTube tutorials and a broken cement court.
Vasundhara’s journey started when a sports promoter introduced local children to squash, taking them 60 km away once a week. While her elder sister lost interest after a while, Vasundhara was mesmerised. “The rallies felt so fast, so different. Even when my sister stopped, I felt I could do something in this,” she recalls.
With no court and no coach in the small town, the Class 9 student turned to YouTube. She practised solo on cracked cement walls, studied online tutorials to perfect her posture and swing. “It was difficult, but interesting. I believed that if I kept trying, something good would come.”
Recognising her passion, her father Mukund Nangare, a schoolteacher, converted an empty classroom into a practice space for the daughters. “They watched videos, and I tried to guide them as much as I could. That gave her discipline,” he says.
The breakthrough came when a neighbour named Rajabhau Shinde built a squash court adjoining his home. Thus Vasundhara had a real venue to hone her skills.
Her first Maharashtra State Open in Pune delivered a stunning performance—defeating a seasoned player in her debut tournament. “That moment felt like validation—from practicing alone on a broken court to reaching state level. It was surreal and deeply emotional,” she says.
But success brought new challenges. Tournaments in metro cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Pune meant gruelling travel from a town with no direct connectivity. “As a schoolteacher, it’s hard to manage my job, house, and travelling far for matches with her,” admits her father. “Financially, it’s a struggle too. Additionally, we did not know much about how to advance in squash, which is generally played in elite clubs with premium coaching fees.”
At a Pune tournament, Vasundhara was introduced to former India player Abhinav Sinha, founder of Chance2Sports and SportsSkill. Despite her unconventional training, Sinha immediately spotted her potential.
“The first time I saw her, she had no formal training and no court. But her hunger to learn was unmatched,” he says. “We innovated with wall drills, fitness over video calls, and occasional camps. She approached every session with the determination of a champion.”
The results have been spectacular: Maharashtra State Open finalist, third place in Asian Junior Trials (earning her India call-up), and victories at the 79th CCI Western India Slam. She recently upset top seed Devashree Arora in the state championships.
“My long-term goal is to compete at the Olympics,” says Vasundhara, drawing inspiration from teen star Anahat Singh. “Watching her play makes me believe I can reach that level too.”
In Kalamb, Vasundhara has sparked interest among girls to explore individual sports beyond traditional village games. Her father sees the broader impact.
“Sports quotas can help village children secure education and jobs. Vasundhara is proving that even in elite sports, talent from small towns can rise with determination,” he says.
As she prepares for the Indian Junior Open in Jaipur, coach Sinha reflects, “If a girl from Kalamb can reach the national squad through YouTube tutorials, imagine what’s possible with proper grassroots support.”
The writer is an intern with The Indian Express, Pune.
