HOOPSTER
ON A HIGH
This 14 year
old Nisha Ann Reginald
is making waves in the National Basketball circles and is being talked about
as a Star in the making. The talented eight standard student of
Sophia High School
, Bangalore, who has given her best to surpass and transcend to excellence.
An extremely spirited and enthusiastic, Nisha as a four year old did not
understand the nuances of Basketball and instead chose the mother of all
sports “Athletics” to expand her bubbling energy, and to have taken up Basketball
later and more significantly made a mark in it is indeed commendable.
At a very young age of four, Nisha realised she had a
flair for field and track events, quickly learning the aspects of jumping
and running. It was as a long jumper that she made her early strides
under the watchful eyes of Coach Mr. Babu Shetty an International athletic
of repute. At the age of six she won a bronze medal in the under - 10
long jump event. A 13.1 run in the 100 Mtr. for a fourth standard student
in a inter school meet brought laurels to her and her club (Bangalore Sports
Club).
At 7 years Nisha joined the Burn Basketball Academy run
by the former captain Mr. Reginald Rajan and it was now that her obsession
for this game started - Lured as she was Nisha’s addiction to the game shot
up. With School coach Capt. P. Ramar presently the Indian Men Team coach
installing the confidence into the player and Mr. Mohan Kumar (Coach of Beagles
Basketball Club, Malleshwaram) taking her under his wings, young Nisha played
her first memorable State Tournament for Sub-juniors (Under 13 years) when
she was hardly 8 years old. She became a part of her School Junior
Basketball Team in Third Standard and was into the Senior Sophia Team in
5th Standard.
She puts tremendous efforts and fervour into the game
as excellent defender, having height and agility is a great advantage in any
sport.
Nisha dribbled her way upto 15thplace in the State Selector’s
Chart in 1999. In 2000 her dream slowly unfurling saw young Nisha cruise
into the Karnataka State Sub-Junior Team (Under 13) at the 27th Basketball
Nationals held at Pondicherry by breaking the age barrier for the first time.
By now the State Selector’s could see that they had a star material to contend
with, from this point Nisha did not have to look back. Two Sub-Junior
Nationals followed 28th and 29th in 2001 and 2002 held at Karuputhala (Punjab)
and Pondicherry. In 2002 Nisha captained the Beagles Basketball Girls
Sub-Junior team in the State Tournament and won the Tournament. She
Captained the Karnataka State Sub-Junior Girl’s Team in 2002. The same
year she got the attention of the National Team Selector’s and was asked to
attend the Indian Team Sub-Junior Camp at Pondicherry.
In 2003 as a 13 year old Nisha made it to the State Junior
Team (Under 18) probably the Youngest ever to make the cut in the 54th Junior
National Basketball Championship held at Ludhiana (Punjab) followed by the
20th Youth National Basketball Championship (Under 16 years) held at Kangra,
Himachal Pradesh. (Karnataka Youth girls team won the Third place in the 20th
Youth Nationals).
“Nisha’s ability to the team is beyond doubt” is a chorus
that reverberates among the State Coaches and the National Selector’s too
have noticed this budding star in the making and called her for the Indian
Team Camp for Youth (Under 16) and the Juniors under 18 years too.
It was a joy for her and to those who have been following
her basketball graph closely. Nisha’s induction in the State Senior
Team (Womens) for the 54th Senior National Basketball Championship held at
Cuttack, Orissa in Dec. 2003 was the crowning moment for her.
Her exploits however does not stop at this. Adept
at swimming, horse riding, drawing, painting singing and she is good in academics
too. Nisha Ann Reginald
has set her sights high “First I want to play for India and then probably
make it to the Asian All-Star Side”. Sounds ambitious, but age is on
her side, it goes without saying that her self determination, resolution
and the commitment to excel would definitely go a long way in reaching her
goal very soon. She thanks her School and Teachers for all the support
and encouragement given to her from time to time.
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Thought for the Day:
" Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you
who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For
you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude
you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's
sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great
in heaven, Fon in the manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to
you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who
are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn
and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did they fathers
to the false prophets."Holy Bible: Luke
6:20-26