AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

        Just in her teens, Komal J Sharma is already aspiring for things of older adults. But before you get us wrong, we are talking about achievements here, and Komal is one of the precocious talents in the squash circuit.

        An ambitious and enthusiastic student of Kanyaka Parameswari College for Women in Kothawalchavadi, Komal has won numerous titles in the national level.

        Blessed with a good physique, Komal has won the Tamilnadu State level and Karnataka State open, to list a few. She was also the runner-up in the Senior National Inter-State championship and had claimed the third place in the Kolkata Junior Nationals.

        The Rajasthan girl spoke on her achievements, dreams and about squash to News Today. 'When I first played the game, I felt very elated looking at the support of the gathering. Many started to compare me with great players, which instilled in me an interest towards the game. Then on I decided to take the sport seriously,' said Komal.

        True to her words, she sweats it out more than five hours a day, practising at the India Cements Academy at EVR Periyar Salai. Despite spending a considerable amount of time in pursuing her passion, Komal also strikes a balance with studies. 'I plan my day accordingly, so much, so that, at the end of the day, I never keep anything pending,' says the first year student of BCA.

        Thankfully the girl, armed with tremendous amount of talent, has an added advantage of being patronaged by the college in her endeavor.'Since I have to be away from the institution for days, while attending tournaments, the staff take extra efforts to teach lessons for me, ' she said.

        In her school days, before switching over to squash, Komal had also excelled in athletics and kabbadi. 'But after my first stint with squash, my heart became more inclined towards this game, which requires a lot of will power and stamina,' she said. Though squash had gained popularity in the recent days, there are very few takers for the game, particularly girls. To increase the number, Komal says that the game has to become more localised, that is many college level and school level competitions have to be conducted.

        'Unlike cricket, this game doesn't get enough media attention. Starting many more squash coaching centres and making it affordable to every one by reducing the cost of training would attract many to take up this sport,' said Komal, who is a resident of Sowcarpet. On her way to success, Komal dreams of making a career out of this vibrant sport. 'It's my ambition to represent India in international squash and make my Nation proud.'

        Speaking to News Today, her coach in India Cements Limited Academy V Laxman said that the girl had been given intensive training looking at her potential. 'From about 40 students chosen for a free programme offered by SDAT three years back, Komal is the only person to have developed so far,' he said. Further, he also said that there is just a single academy for squash all over in South India, which is hardly adequate. If squash had to gain recognition more number of such academies had to be started.

        'Unlike few years back, when many students got into this sport, to use it as a passport for going abroad, now the scenario has completely changed and they aim to become professionals,' he said.