Jalandhar: A girl from the city has excelled in the Junior National Ball Badminton Championship.
Jalandhar: Manisha, a Class X student of Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Adarsh Nagar, has brought laurels to her school and family by emerging as the best player in India at the recently concluded Junior National Ball Badminton Championship in Tamil Nadu. Manisha comes from a humble background; her father, Dhan Bahadur, works as a cook. Speaking to The Tribune, her mother, Neeru, expressed gratitude to Manisha’s coach, Inderjeet Kumar, who has always been there for her. She shared that whenever the family faced financial difficulties, the coach helped them and ensured that Manisha’s training was not interrupted. Manisha follows a disciplined routine. She attends school in the morning and goes to DSSD School for practice in the evening. Interestingly, despite her busy schedule, she also takes time out to provide basic training to young children, helping them learn the fundamentals of the sport.
Now, after returning from the championship, Manisha is focusing on her Class X board examinations. However, her aspirations remain firmly rooted in sports. She said, “I want to make a career in sports, and if I get a job in the future, I want it to be through sports.” Recalling her journey, Manisha credited her school teacher, Sharandeep Kaur, who introduced her to ball badminton two years ago. She said, “She encouraged me to play this sport, and that’s how I met Inderjeet sir, and today I am here. I will continue to work hard. I will also be going on an international tour soon.” Her success has also been lauded by school authorities and local sports organizations, who hope that her journey will inspire more girls to take up sports. Teachers describe Manisha as focused, humble, and strong-willed. With continued guidance and institutional support, many believe she has the potential to shine at the international level and become a role model for aspiring young athletes.
