State cagers’ surprise weapon lay in springing tactical variation

Placed in a group with Rajasthan, MP and Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra were expected to qualify for the next stage. As they progressed to glory the surprise use of tactics flummoxed their opponents.

After winning the opener against Rajasthan 51-14, Maharashtra suffered a quick reverse. A 37-46 loss to MP raised apprehension but the team rose well to the challenge of beating Himachal Pradesh 77-25.

It was here that the team changed gears. Leading 28-22 at half-time, Venkatesh and Khaladkar exhorted the girls. “I told them they had come here to win the title, nothing less,” said Venkatesh.

“That spurred them to play better thereafter,” said Khaladkar. Then came the sensation against Punjab which scripted a turnabout in the side’s charachter and technique. The full court press worked wonders for sure and it vindicated the team management’s strategy. Venkatesh reflects: “Punjab were shocked when we used full-court press.

They did not know what hit them and conceded the initial advantage.” Venkatesh continues: “In the quarter-finals, we were to face Kerala a strong team. They had the height, speed and skill. Luckily for us, they had not watched our battle against Punjab. So we could use the same tactics,” explained Venkatesh.

Reflecting further on the action, Venkatesh recollects with great joy: “Three or four steals rattled the Kerala girls. They could not come to grips with our tactics. And in women’s basketball once a team takes the advantage it rarely lets it slip,” explains Khaladkar.

After an easy semi-final victory over Karnataka, Maharashtra braced for the final hurdle against MP this time for the title.

“Our defeat to MP in the league stage was a blessing in disguise because for the final we were the underdogs. Though MP knew we would use the full court press, we surprised them by playing our main player Arnika Gujar in the inside. She scored some important baskets and though the match was well fought out, we always remained in the lead,” said Venkatesh.

Venkatesh and Khaladkar had some words of praise for the entire team. “They are a talented bunch of youngsters, who played intelligently. They carried out whatever instructions we gave them,” says Khaladkar.

Venkatesh speaks highly of the four players who formed the core — Arnika Gujar, Mithila Gujar, Pradnya Mane and Lovina Figueiredo.

“Arnika is a all-round player who can fit into any role. Her recent stint with the Indian team at the Junior Asian Basketball Confederation in Bangkok had done her a world of good,” says Venkatesh.

About the others he says: “Mithila was good at interceptions and hustled the rivals, Pradnya too, is fast and hardworking. Though Loveena, the ball-handler, was slow, she controlled the game very well.”

Khaladkar, who as a coach ringed in the substitutions, was glad that he was given a team that had bench strength. “Whenever the regulars got tired I had several options with me and players like Nilambari Kane and Sapna Tunge fitted into the scheme of things well.”

Incidentally, Maharashtra’s previous triumph in the junior section had come in New Delhi itself. This time round the Capital proved to be a lucky venue for Maharashtra who have often produced champion women’s cagers.