Riding on last year’s success at the Statelevel Under-14 table tennis (TT) tournament, this year, the under-17 TT team ofManovikas High School, Margao comprising of the same players, emerged victoriousyet again. Although the team put on a good show at all three levels “ taluka,district and state, the boys played exceptionally well at the district level. CoachPerpetual Pires feels that some outstanding performances from YashvardhanSalgaocar (captain) and Anthony George helped them clinch the championshiptitle at the state level.
The team comprising of five boys saw threeboys compete, while the remaining two cheered their school team on.Yashvardhan, Anthony and Reuben Sequeira took on the responsibility of givingtheir best shot and succeeded in defeating their opponents. However, Reubenfeels he could have done better. He adds, “I lost an entire game of service. Iwas relying on a signature service of mine, which just didn’t happen at thetournament because of pressure.” What is also notable that while two of the keyplayers “ Yashvardhan and Anthony train privately to improve their gameplay, theremaining three rely on their practice in the school.
The boys started practicing for thetournament in the first week of July. Apart from the nervous tension ofparticipating at the Under-17 level for the first time, the team had the extrapressure of examinations scheduled just days before the tournament. Bearingthis in mind, the management and the Principal of the school made special arrangementsfor the team members to answer their examinations one hour prior to the timescheduled for the other students of the school. This gave them the time topractice for one hour after answering their examinations. Reuben says, “We arelucky to be studying in a school that supports us for sports as well asacademics. Our coach, especially, has been exceptionally encouraging and addedhealthy pressure.”
Principal Brenda D’Cruz feels she could makethe special arrangements because the children were academically prepared. Shesays, “They were representing the school at the State level, so we had to makesure they got the required exposure. After all, along with the academicprogress, the holistic development of children is important and I feel ourefforts have paid off.”
