LUDHIANA: When 16-year-old Anmolpreet Kaur Pannu was shuttling between
Phillaur and Ludhiana last year to learn the nuances of a not-so-popular
sport like basketball, it would have seemed to many that her efforts
would go to waste. But, earlier this month, it was this six-foot,
one-inch tall trainee at Ludhiana Basketball Academy who had the last
laugh.
On March 3, the Class XI student became the first Indian girl to be selected for a three-year scholarship at a basketball academy in Tokyo, Japan. A student of Malwa Khalsa Senior Secondary Girls School in Ludhiana, Anmolpreet described her selection for the scholarship at Toagaukuen High School in Tokyo as a "dream come true".
"Since my childhood days, sports had been my first love, though I like studies too. Thoug I would participate in athletics at my alma mater, Saint Joseph Convent School, my teachers Ravi Kumar and Vijay Thakur motivated me to take up basketball. It was when I was playing the sport that someone suggested me to join LBA and get trained by Teja Singh Dhaliwal," she said.
Anmol, as she is lovingly called by her friends, hails from Rountan village in Shahpur Nakodar, Jalandhar, and lives in Phillaur, where her father is posted as an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) in Punjab Police. She joined LBA two years ago. "Till last year, I was shuttling between Ludhiana and Phillaur, where my family lives. This year, I joined a hostel,' she said. "In September, Dhaliwal sir informed me about the trial for the three-year scholarship in Tokyo in the same month. I appeared for the trial that was held in Noida, and cleared it," she said.
The achiever, whose favourite is the first India-born NBA player, Satnam Singh Bhamara, says she got a final confirmation about her selection on March 3. "I am the only girl from India who has qualified for the prestigious school, where budding players from across the world come to learn the game," she said.
"The credit for my making it to the prestigious school goes to the LBA, especially Dhaliwal sir, my coaches Devinder Singh and Jaipal Singh, and coordinator Rohit Bakshi," she said, adding that her parents, Parminder Singh and Jasvir Kaur, too deserved all the praise for supporting her and standing by her choices.
Parents: 'Feels like we are living a dream'
For Punjab Police assistant sub-inspector Parminder Singh, Anmolpreet is more of a son. "Two years ago when she decided to learn the game, we were a bit apprehensive as she had to shuttle between Phillaur and Ludhiana. But we knew our daughter is a strong girl," he said. He added that such was the conviction and passion of her daughter for basketball that she would take two tiffins, one for her lunch at school and the second during training at the academy.
On March 3, the Class XI student became the first Indian girl to be selected for a three-year scholarship at a basketball academy in Tokyo, Japan. A student of Malwa Khalsa Senior Secondary Girls School in Ludhiana, Anmolpreet described her selection for the scholarship at Toagaukuen High School in Tokyo as a "dream come true".
"Since my childhood days, sports had been my first love, though I like studies too. Thoug I would participate in athletics at my alma mater, Saint Joseph Convent School, my teachers Ravi Kumar and Vijay Thakur motivated me to take up basketball. It was when I was playing the sport that someone suggested me to join LBA and get trained by Teja Singh Dhaliwal," she said.
Anmol, as she is lovingly called by her friends, hails from Rountan village in Shahpur Nakodar, Jalandhar, and lives in Phillaur, where her father is posted as an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) in Punjab Police. She joined LBA two years ago. "Till last year, I was shuttling between Ludhiana and Phillaur, where my family lives. This year, I joined a hostel,' she said. "In September, Dhaliwal sir informed me about the trial for the three-year scholarship in Tokyo in the same month. I appeared for the trial that was held in Noida, and cleared it," she said.
The achiever, whose favourite is the first India-born NBA player, Satnam Singh Bhamara, says she got a final confirmation about her selection on March 3. "I am the only girl from India who has qualified for the prestigious school, where budding players from across the world come to learn the game," she said.
"The credit for my making it to the prestigious school goes to the LBA, especially Dhaliwal sir, my coaches Devinder Singh and Jaipal Singh, and coordinator Rohit Bakshi," she said, adding that her parents, Parminder Singh and Jasvir Kaur, too deserved all the praise for supporting her and standing by her choices.
Parents: 'Feels like we are living a dream'
For Punjab Police assistant sub-inspector Parminder Singh, Anmolpreet is more of a son. "Two years ago when she decided to learn the game, we were a bit apprehensive as she had to shuttle between Phillaur and Ludhiana. But we knew our daughter is a strong girl," he said. He added that such was the conviction and passion of her daughter for basketball that she would take two tiffins, one for her lunch at school and the second during training at the academy.
Resource :http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/Teen-basketball-player-selected-for-Tokyo-academy/articleshow/51365785.cms
No comments:
Post a Comment