This badminton champ trains from 4:30 in the morning

A class 8 student at Apeejay School, Noida Eva Negi is an ace shuttler indeed. She recently participated in the Play All Junior Badminton Tournament held in Modern School, Noida. The little champ bagged the runners up prize in the U-13 and U-15 categories and even won a cash prize of INR 750 and  INR 500 respectively. Taking out time from her training session, Eva engages in a quick interview with Apeejay Newsroom and shares insights about the tournament as well as mentions some new targets in her sight. Read edited excerpts:

Tell us about your experience in the Play All Junior Badminton tournament? How many matches and rounds were there? Were the opponents too tough?

It was an exceptional experience for me. I played in the Under 13 as well as the Under 15 category. The Under 13 category had 4 rounds, while the Under 15 category had 3 rounds. In both the categories, I got a ‘bye’ i.e. a forfeit from the opponent in the first round. All in all, I played 5 matches that day.  The toughness of the matches increased as I got near the finals. But due to an injury in my calf muscle, playing continuously got very difficult for me.  Half way through the Under 13 final match, I picked up a knee injury, which made it difficult for me to play with full force in the Under 15 final. However, overall it was a nice experience to play with good players in the opposition.

 How does your school support your athletic prowess?

My sports teachers in school always encourage me to participate in different sports activities.  They encourage me to take part both within the school as well as in inter-school events. This gives me a lot of exposure and experience.

So, when did you pick up the racquet?

I have been playing badminton for the past 2 years. It was after the lockdown.

What’s your favourite badminton shot?

I like to play slice shot from overhead and the forehand corner. I feel confident and even artistic while playing these shots. They come naturally to me.

Brief us a bit about your training schedule?

During summer breaks, I train twice a day. On weekdays, I train from 4:30  to 6:30 in the morning. The second training session begins from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. On Thursdays, I focus on fitness during the morning slot, and then on match practice from 4:30 in the evening.  The weekends constitute one session of around 3 hours. I rest on Mondays.

Future aims in the court?

My short term goal is to win the state level tournament and I am working hard for this.

Lastly, favourite badminton player

I find all players equally talented, but if I had to choose one, then I find Tai Tzu Ying exceptional.