‘I trained for more than six hours a day’

Manya Ralhan, a class 11 student  with Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, is an ace shuttler. We at the Apeejay Newsroom are proud to have covered many achievements of hers and she never disappoints. This time the shuttler from Punjab has won the national level tournament in girls doubles – All India National Ranking Badminton Tournament held in Chandigarh. 

In a special interview, the young champ tells us about the grilling training schedule she took to achieve the crown from the hands of the badminton star Pullela Gopichand. Edited excerpts:

How many rounds were there in this competition?

There were five rounds from the main draw. So, I played five matches in the doubles. I lost doubles-mix in quarters and won the gold medal in the girls doubles, where we played all five matches, winning the finale. My partner was Tanvi Sharma from Hoshiarpur.

The practice schedule must have been special?

It was a national level tournament, so I had to increase the training a lot. I focused much on strength, speed and skill. I had longer training sessions and there was greater intensity in practice. I had a one and a half hour fitness training session in the morning and then a three hours on-court badminton session followed by another in the evening.

Special training must have included a special diet:

A balanced diet that includes a good level of healthy fat and protein. When I focus on proteins, it includes a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian. 

Also Read: Smashing siblings: Apeejay School Mahavir Marg students Manya and Saanvi Ralhan shine at the district badminton championship

How did your school help you to conquer Punjab?

They rescheduled many of my examinations, provided me with the notes and study material. They supported me a lot. 

Describe the tournament experience?

It was intense. I prepared my mind match by match, focusing on one win after the other. The competition level was tough. I had to fight a lot to win, so that increased my confidence.

What is a must in playing badminton in doubles?

Understanding is key between the partners. Second thing is motivating the partner when they feel low or make mistakes. Also, communicate while playing.

Which shot did you play the most in this tournament?

I played attacking a lot, it is needed the most in doubles. So I hit a lot of smashes.

Next tournaments in sight?

Senior state tournament and then the open national tournaments