‘I want to get a rank between 1 and 10 in the next national badminton championship’

Laqshyaa Shyeoran, class 10 student at Apeejay School, Saket is a badminton ace. She has won the first position in U-17 mixed doubles category and is the runner up in the U-17 girls and U-15 girls categories in the Southeast Delhi and South Delhi district badminton championships held recently. In an exclusive interview, the rapid shuttler gives us an insight into her experience of playing in the tournament, her training regimen and inspirations in the court. Edited excerpts:

At what age did you pick up the racquet?

Professionally, I started playing badminton one or two months ago. Otherwise, I used to play for an hour for fitness purposes previously. I started playing badminton from class 10. My father has been in sports, he used to play football and volleyball. So, he always encouraged me to go into sports more than academics. 

How was your experience playing in the tournament?

I was a bit scared in the beginning but as I started to win a few matches, those helped in boosting my courage. Then I began enjoying the tournament. The U-17 matches were the toughest.

Tell us about your training regimen?

My diet consisted of proteins and primarily everything that gave me a boost of energy. I ate a lot of eggs, lentils and sprouts. My training included warm up sessions, knockout drills, ralley, crosses, and drops. Then the coach would teach me some strokes which helped me to play trick shots. FInally, there was a practice match.  

Who is your favourite badminton player?

It’s PV Sindhu! I love her fitness level, it is so inspiring. 

Now to strengths and weaknesses in the court, what are your best badminton shots?

I love to hit a good smash, it’s my favourite. My strength I would say is the lift and I think I need to work more on my backhand toss. 

How did the school help you to give your best on the court?

The school had previously sent me to the zonal badminton tournament and that helped me a lot in building my confidence. 

What are your next targets?

My next targets are to get a good position in national championships. I want to get a rank between 1 and 10.