In an outstanding achievement, both the women’s and men’s throwball teams have won gold for India at the the recent Asian Continental Games 2017, held in Thailand. What’s more, two players from the women’s team, Sharon Pascal and Gaddam Krishna Induja, are from Hyderabad and were coached by Venkat Komu and Jagan Mohan Goud.
“It’s a great feeling. This is our second international win in the last few months. The experience at the Asian Continental Games was different from the World Games 2017. This time, some of the players in the team were government employees; one was a policewoman from Punjab. It was nice playing with people from different parts of the country. We all got along well and our sole aim was to make India proud. We won against Malaysia in the semi-finals and thrashed Thailand in the finals,” says 24-year-old Sharon, proudly.
Induja says that the best part of the series was defeating the home team. “Thailand gave us a tough competition, but we won. I was the captain for the World Games and am glad we could make the country proud again. More parents should encourage their kids to take up sports. The awareness in the city is lacking,” says 19-year-old Induja, who was also a national-level tennis player. “After I suffered from jaundice, I switched to throwball as I couldn’t cotinue tennis. Throwball is tough too as the ball comes spinning in at great speed and we suffer from hand injuries. But I got attached to the sport and will continue playing it,” she adds.
While Sharon works as an Assistant Publishing Specialist at Thomson Reuters and is also pursuing a post graduate degree in Psychology at Osmania University, Induja is pursuing Interior Designing at Hamstech Institute of Fashion and Interior Designing. So doesn't the schedule get hectic? “Yes, it’ very tiring. I practise in the morning, go to work and study during the weekends. But nothing matters more than making the country proud. Playing a sport can also be a stress-buster. I unwind by playing table tennis and dancing,” says Sharon. While Induja adds, “No matter how tiring it gets, I will continue playing for my father. When he tells people that his daughter plays for the country, it makes me happy.”
While both the girls face problems with funds and lack of opportunities, they want to continue playing for India. “I also want to start playing discus throw professionally. It’s all possible because our parents support us at all times,” concludes Sharon.
