Zazo: Her passion is badminton, Selected for district when she was 13, Hardeepa is on Orkut’s Hall of Fame to share her journey to her favorite sports Badminton, Lets ask hardeepa how she starts and what she faced in all her way.
Welcome to Orkut’s Hall of Fame Hardeepa!

Hardeepa: well thanx
umm…it all started wen i was 12(when I loved greenery n had decided that I’ll b studying botany coz that was something I was really really interested at). I started off very well with the game initially. I had faced a lot of isolation as most of the winners were boys and the ppl around even the coaches n all wud not pay enuf heed then. I remember…thre was a tournament in ratnagiri(a distant district here in maharashtra) and i was not being sent there coz there was no other girl to accompany me and none from my own family was much concerned cz they had always wanted me to take badminton as a “hobby ..i had cried my heart out then. anyway…I wasn’t sent to that place.
My then on my interests got inclined towards sports and i turned out to b a tomboy.

Talking about obstacles…he ichalkaranji team( the team i belong to) was isolated by kolhapur dist badminton asso. bcoz ichi had produced much better players thn those from kolhapur

Zazo: How its going right now? At present are you preparing for any upcoming tournaments?

Hardeepa: well…rite now i m at a camp at thane (Maharashtra)… I m in a great form…I m looking forward to play well at the tournaments which wud b held at the end of the camp.

Zazo: Hardeepa please share your family background and who in your family or friend played a big supportive role in your carrier?

Hardeepa: umm…I belong to an upper middle class family…my mom and dad have been pretty supportive ….but their concern towards my game hasn’t been satisfying enough…I mean…I have such companions here(at the camp) whose parents literally SIT by them and tell them abt the regime legends like Muhammad ali used to follow,etc…i wish i too cud have somebody who cud tell me wat to eat n wat not to n to just believe in myself…
And as far as frenz r concerned…I don’t have many frenz

Zazo: Who is your coach? and how much time you practice everyday?

Hardeepa: well…my first was mr.avinash ranade…who did nothing for the job…so i have shifted from the coaching venue to a near by court…i train under raju sir …who is good…and I travel to kolhapur(a nearby city) every weekend to coach under Mr. Mahesh sawant… v don’t have nice wooden surface or even carpet surface courts where i live …kolhapurhas got gud carpet surface courts.

Zazo: How much exposure you expect from badminton in comparison to other countries who produce quality sports persons in badminton like China, Korea, Indonesia. Do you think that Indian shuttlers gets all the comfort and quality training?

Hardeepa: wel…being a state funded sport(though not so much now) badminton in India is facing a bit of complications in the process and the most glaring example of this cud not b better than the ’shuttle import from china’ controversies. talking abt exposure-India IS coming up. I don’t want to talk about badminton in other countries coz I really don’t know abt it there. besides, i think India needs to b provided with better courts…we’ve the best coaches, better infrastructure, rigorous and effective training…the players need to b more willing to overcome other shortcomings.

Zazo: As you answered above I would like to ask you that if India has best coach, best courts and also some best players still what are the recent achievements? We all know that none! What will be the reasons for that? Is it because that lack of sponsors? Less tournaments? or ignorance of govt?

Hardeepa: well…this is India…nothing beyond cricket is taken as a matter of national pride…so the other sports are treated insignificant. Perhaps this is y not many sponsors step up. and where as the question of govt arises, I’d say that other sports (besides men’s cricket) have been subjected to what is called a ’step motherly behavior’. and btw, I did not mention ‘best courts’ in India…there r almost negligible number of “good” courts…and lack of realization in the minds of Indians(abt lessening the hype of cricket) is also a major drawback because it is the ppl of a nation that pay major contribution to the popularity of any sport. and yes….India needs more participation of players in international tournaments.

Zazo: What are your activities on orkut? Do you own any community or any particular aim joining this social networking site?

Hardeepa: here in orkut, I own four communities- saina nehwal,great sportswomen, virdhawal khade, and syed modi. Orkut has really helped me get in touch wid sportsmen around the world.

Zazo: Any unforgettable moment of your life while playing on badminton court, the most excited or tough match ever?

Hardeepa: well, as a matter of fact, I’ve lost twice at love (0) -the first when I had just begun playing tournaments i.e., my first mayor’s open and the second during my first zonal interschool tournament. My win over holy cross convent school, both in doubles and in singles, in the interschool tournament by SAI (SPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA) has been the toughest so far and the best at the same time. The most disappointing performance by me can be called back to be the one I played in a tournament conducted by cosco in Thane. I still remember I was leading by 4-0 and ended up losing it 21-11 against vallari bukane who now is a national level player.

Zazo: Any upcoming matches so far? How much you practice in whole day? and any special diet or workout to stay fit?

Hardeepa: I m looking forward to play in the tournament to b held by the camp itself (the 51st manora tournament) and then the cosco tourney again. My regimentation starts at 5.30am to 7.30am (fitness session) and the court session from 9.00am to 12.30pm. my diet rule is to eat ON TIME …AND V CAMPERS WILL SOON B ATTENDING A LECTURE ON DIET AND NUTRITION by well known pros and dieticians. I always end the days regime by nice, fulfilling body stretch coz that’s what helps to stay away from injuries.

Zazo: Hardeepa thanks a lot for giving your precious time to make this interview successful. I wish you a very great success and luck! Its a pleasure talking with you.
Thank you.

Hardeepa: thank YOU
I HAD REAL FUN ANSWERING THEM