BASIL SYLVESTER PINTO
MARGAO
Ahead of the Ultimate Table Tennis League this season, two-time champions, Dempo Goa Challengers went great lengths to secure the services of Romanian ace paddler, Bernadette Szocs. So much so, she was the highest-valued signing at the auction.
And the world-ranked 24 Romanian who was with U Mumba TT, the eventual champion last season, has spearheaded the new challenge with her class, grit, experience and leadership to yet another final.
Speaking on her experience with the Dempo Goa Challengers who are the hosts at UTT 7, Bernadette remarked, “It is a new challenge for me. We have made history in the competition as the first team to win all their ties in the league stage. But even so, it is not the end. We still have to play further. Like I have stated before, our team knows how to complement each other and that is how we won our ties. I trust we can bring the title home to Goa.”
The team captain of the Goa franchise revealed that team spirit and understanding has been their recipe of success as they stand a step nearer to another title. “I know how to create the right spirit in the team. I am the captain with a lot of experience. I know how to speak to each player apart because we are all different. But at the same time, I have to bring the team together. I think I am doing that very well and have created a nice atmosphere and spirit in our team. They believe in me, and I believe in them. It is important that we enjoy every step of the match. I have told them that they have to enjoy, without taking any pressure. I think this has helped us along with the belief in ourselves,” the three-time Olympian maintained.
Last season’s Female MVP, the 31-year-old top-tier player understands that handling expectations in front of large crowds along with mental discipline go hand-in-hand while treating every match, with maximum effort point by point. “It is not easy. Mentally it is the hardest as with every situation we have to prepare differently,” she asserted. Stating an example only two months ago at a major tournament, Bernadette revealed, “At the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championship in London, we (Romania) brought home a medal, a bronze, after 26 years. I can say that having played earlier in the women’s doubles final in Qatar last year, I learnt a lot. I did not put any pressure on myself and controlled my emotions. Everyone knows, last year, I brought the first medal, a silver, in World Table Tennis Team Championship, in Doha, Qatar in doubles alongside Sofia Polcanova (Austria) and I think from this experience, I learnt a lot.”
On her thoughts of rubbing shoulders with the youngsters at Dempo Goa Challengers, the effervescent Romanian expressed delight. “I am very happy to be with such young players because it is a new experience for me and it will stay in my heart forever. It is a nice feeling to be with them, especially when they are very good players. Syndrela (Das), when I see her, I see myself in her at that age. When I was paired in mixed doubles with Abhinandh P.B., I was a little surprised as I never played with a young player like him. It is a new experience and I like playing with him. Last season, he was with the same team as myself (U Mumba TT) and we won the title. I was very happy to find out he is once again in my team,” the top flight paddler stated.
On Sunday, against her former side, and defending champions, U Mumba TT, Bernadette Szocs would look to lead her charges from the front and bring home a third title for Dempo Goa Challengers.
