I am happy that I am living up to the expectations: Varuni Jaiswal

She could not have asked for a more momentous Navratri gift for herself, her family, coach and fellow-trainees at Gujarati Seva Mandali (GSM) in the city.

It is here that she spends close to four hours each non-competitive day honing her table tennis skills with the diligence of a passionate paddler, who has set her sights on the higher league and is going about it with renewed vigour.

On meeting Varuni Jaiswal, one would be bowled over by her charming grace that goes beyond accomplishments in table tennis.

A multi-dimensional bundle of talent and one who for long has lived in the shadows of her more illustrious counterparts, Varuni is enjoying the ‘best and most productive season of my career’.

Her success chart is on the ascendancy, thanks to spectacular achievements that have taken her to the podium with a rare regularity this year.

‘I am happy that I am living up to the expectations of my elders. Making it to the sub-junior national camps was the first big step for me. This bolstered my confidence levels, which has helped me taste success in junior, youth and women categories,’ reasons Varuni, a second year Intermediate student at St Mary Junior College in Yousufguda.

What will rank among the biggest achievements of the ongoing season is the manner she made light of the awe-inspiring track-record of Akula Sreeja, whose exploits in international tournaments have been a revelation in themselves. That Varuni displayed a rare champion-like temperament while conquering her more fancied opponent on more than one occasion proves that the first was not a case of isolated brilliance.

According to M Venugopal, who has been her coach right from the time she held a bat in her hand, ‘a hallmark of Varuni is that she is a very good learner and grasps the nuances pretty fast. She has evolved as a player by mentally preparing herself for the bigger challenges. This is holding her in good stead and is coming in handy during crunch situations.’

The recent success in the West Zone leg where she accounted for Sreeja in the title clash once again demonstrates the fighting spirit of Varuni, who is also among the youngest to deliver a discourse on Bhagwad Gita to popular applause. This trait of hers came to the fore in 2009 when she rendered the revered scripture before a packed audience during the 16th International Children’s Film Festival. The mind-blowing aspect is that she was not even ten years of age!

Meanwhile, this year’s Navratri celebrations were rather modest because ‘I am concentrating on the Inter-district and State championship that begins in Nalgonda on Sunday.’

‘Presently, my focus is on cementing my place in the top three in junior, youth and women categories and grow further. Consistency is what I am looking at on the national horizon,’ points out Varuni, who also possesses envious taekwondo skills.

For one who wishes to maintain a qualitative equilibrium in both table tennis and academics, two major events await her in the coming month. The National ranking Championship (North Zone) is slated to be held fromNovember 2 to 7.

In fact, she must be looking forward to the East Zone leg of the national championships, which will held at Guwahati from November 15. There is a personal ‘milestone’ sentiment attached to the event for the simple reason that it takes off on the day she turns 16.

Quite obviously, her well-wishers will hope that it would mark the sweetest icing on the birthday cake.

By:Sridhar K Penna