For Agradneya Vyayamshala, Dombivli, the elixir of success has been pounded from three ingredients: hard work, battle against odds, and girl power.The formula has seen the club rise from obscurity, at the turn of the decade, to a winning team that is a veritable assembly line for girls' basketball in the state.The club - it has only a mud court at its disposal - won its maiden state title last year when its under-13 girls brushed aside oppositions. But there is no resting on laurels, unlike so many other clubs. Reigning state champions Ajinkya Gymkhana (Satara) are facing extinction as a one-batch wonder, while clubs like Savio, Fatima, Indian Gymkhana, Ghatkopar YMCA are struggling to field a complete side.But at Dombivli, the machines of the assembly line are whirring. This year, Agradneya unleashed another fresh lot of under-13 girls, who tellingly demonstrated their skills by notching the DB Prabhu Memorial title last week.The credit for the success should go to mentor Milind Apte, who has perfected the Agradneya pyramid. Manisha Khaprekar, who was part of Maharashtra's National Games gold finish, and who performed so well at the Jaipur Nationals, stands alone at the top. A testimony to the club's modest beginnings, and a shining example of the fruits of hardwork for the girls below.A rung below is Gayatri Manolikar, who propelled Maharashtra to the National youth girls final, and was bestowed with a youth India camp invite. Following the duo are talent that is coming in encouraging waves.
