Game, Set and Match with Neha Aggarwal
Tarun Gupta
Neha Aggarwal is a gritty player
and one of the top players from North India. This girl with luminary looks does
not hesitate to deal with problems head on. Neha leaves an inspiring tail for
youngsters to take up Table Tennis in an exclusive interview with sportskreeda!
1) During your childhood you used to be a skater.
How did you first get attracted towards Table Tennis? Who inspired you the most
to take it up.
I was 7 when I had quit skating after winning the super nationals. My elder brother Vishal played table tennis in school and he won a silver medal in U-8 category in a Delhi state ranking tournament. That is when my parents decided to give both of us proper table tennis coaching. And that is how it all started.
2) How does
it feel to be the only table tennis girl from Delhi to represent India in
olympics.
Well, frankly the day I qualified I didn’t know how big it was. But back home, the kind of media attention and the congratulatory messages I got, I understood that it was big. My experience in Beijing was wonderful and unforgettable. I felt proud of myself to have represented the country in the Olympics! I will always be thankful to my parents and coaches for supporting me throughout.
3) What is your training program like? How
often do you go abroad for training?
When I am in Delhi, my training schedule includes 1 hour of fitness on the ground and 5-6 hours on the table. But we also go through a lot of training camps in NIS, Patiala organized by the TTFI and SAI which are quite beneficial. Plus the government and TTFI have also sent us for training camps in the Europe & China. Our training there includes physical fitness, techniques & tactical training on the table and video analysis sessions.
4) Up next are the Commonwealth Championships. You
will be back in the Indian team after a hiatus. So how are your preparations
for the games going on?
Well yes, I am back in the team after almost 3 year and I m quite excited and looking forward to it. We are going to train in China next month to prepare for the upcoming tournament.
5) You have faced many ups and downs in life. What
has been your source of motivation?
The very desire to win and be at the top keeps me going all the time. In the low phase, I worked harder than ever before. I have realised that hard work is the key. But what keeps you going even during the low phase is that medal around your neck which gives you the satisfaction and happiness.
6) Despite many players winning laurels for the
nation, Table Tennis is not attained the desired popularity in our country.
What steps do you think should be taken to boost the popularity of the game?
I think the immediate need is to bring in a league system as prevalent in various Europe and Asian countries like China and Korea. In India, private/corporate sponsorship is only for a few sports like cricket & hockey which take away all the limelight. If a league system like IPL or IHL is brought in for table tennis too, I feel the mass appeal for the sport will rise and table tennis will also be popular in India.
7) Lastly, any tips or pointers for youngsters who
want to take up Table Tennis professionally?
I think TT is a wonderful sport to take up professionally. It is a combination of speed, skill and intelligence plus its fun too! More than 200 nations play table tennis worldwide. In India, no. of PSUs are providing employment to the players helping them to have a secured future once they retire. The Sports Ministry, SAI and the TTFI are also very supporting. So go out and have fun playing the second fastest sport!
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