It was a great moment of pride for Apeejay School, Model Town, Jalandhar. Its student, Praatik Kauldhar, of class X, won the second position in the Under-17 (Doubles) Lawn Tennis match at the district level. It is a part of the premier sports event Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan organised by the Punjab Government.
The school’s Officiating Principal, Ms Priyanka Grover, wished him felicitation on this achievement. “We are all very proud of Praatik for such exemplary achievement, and we wish him all the best for all his future endeavours,” she shared.
Meanwhile, in a candid interview, the racket slinger shared his winning mantra and how he prefers to play single tournaments.
How did it feel when you found out you won the match?
It felt great! It feels like my hard work and perseverance have paid off. What added to the jubilation was that I was confident that we would win. While volleying with our opponent before the match, I realised they had a weak backhand and were slow at running. So I practised drops and fast shots to his backhand side.
You won the Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values, did brilliantly in your class IX results, and now lawn tennis. How do you manage?
Managing time is key. You have to prioritise your schedule. During exams, I missed tennis classes since my priority was the tests. I have been playing tennis for the last seven years. My father introduced the game to me by taking me to an academy. Back then, I didn’t even know what tennis was. Now, I love the idea of competing and winning.
What’s the best thing about playing tennis?
It’s about having fun. If the opponent is a beginner, it’s easy to defeat them, but that’s not enjoyable. Having a formidable opponent brings in a feeling of winning in me. I enjoy the game and it helps me to improve my skills which is an integral part of the game.
What’s your daily routine like?
I wake up at 5:30 am daily. If it’s a holiday, I train from 6-9 am, then study from 10 am to 2 pm. I take a break till 6 pm and study again till 9 pm. My practice time depends on my school workload, especially during exams; it also depends on if there is an upcoming competition.
What’s important to succeed in tennis?
The most important thing is mindset. We often worry about what will happen if we lose, but we should focus on winning and believe we can do it. We must adapt our strategy based on the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Many players get nervous and can’t show their full game because of it. Regular practice is important, but mindset is crucial. It is important to remain calm.
Are you preparing for any upcoming tournaments?
I’m focused on the district-level tournament coming up next month.
What’s the strategy for playing doubles?
Doubles require a lot of coordination. One player is at the net (volley), and the other is at the baseline. We communicate by saying “yes” or “no” to indicate whose ball it is.