Growing up in an army family background, being athletic runs through Samairah
Bandare’s veins. Although too young to understand the philosophy of the world,
this quick-witted little girl grasped all that she could and opened doors to
success.In the Junior National Squash Championship held in Jaipur in November,
Samairah bagged the 9th position in the Girls under 11 Category which is pretty
commendable since she started playing the circuit only a year prior to that.
After turning 11 in December Samairah so moved into the Girls Under 13 category
and played her first tournament in Bangalore where she stood 6th.
In the recently concluded Goa State Closed
Squash Championship (SRFI) held at SAG, Vasco, Samairah won the first place in
Girls Under 13 category and Second place in Girls under 15 category.
Despite the achievements, she doesn’t call
it her success but the learning period. “She is still young. We as her parents
just want her to enjoy the sport since she loves it, there is no pressure, and
she has a long way to go so winning or losing doesn’t matter right now,” says
Sneha Bandare her mother.
Shy and reserved Samairah says that ever since
she began going out for tournaments she has seen herself improve from being a
shy girl and an increase in her confidence level. She now claims to have become
more outgoing.
It was not long before Samairah realized
her skills for squash. Well, it didn’t’ even begin with squash for that matter.
Her first encounter with a racquet was when she saw her friend playing tennis,
and as a curious child she began noticing the racquet’s job and its swing. “I
fell in love with the racquet!” she exclaims. Since then Samairah began playing
tennis. However, there were no coaches for tennis and she had to choose between
badminton and squash.
After choosing squash, it was difficult for to be accumulated
with the swing and moves of squash, somehow she managed with the help from her
coach Rehman Hubli
“We have to understand that coming from a tennis background it
does take more time to get the child accustomed to the Squash ecosystem.
Considering these two factors I am very happy to see her progress. She is a
dedicated child and loves the game.It’s any coach’s dream when you get to train
a child like Samairah who follows instructions and is disciplined,” explains
Coach Rehman Hubli.
Little girls can have many popular persons whom they idolize;
Samairah looks up to people from her family, like her uncle Lt Gen Paramjit
Singh Sangha who is in the army. “He motivates me and gives me ideas to do
better in my game and fitness. He also helps me to plan my time well, “she
expresses. She mentions her aunt Dr Shweta Uppal, an oncologist as her
inspiration since she’s disciplined and hardworking. “Maasi tells me about how
to stay healthy,” she states innocently. She also talks about how her parents
are supportive, and says her father makes her do all outdoor activities that
helps her improve concentration level. “My Mamma takes me for all my Squash
coaching classes and tournaments.”
Samairah
will next participate in the Southern Slam, Chennai to be held from 27th May
onwards and is getting ready with five hours of practice daily with her coach.
Hardworking and determined, Samairah will grow up to be a strong, focused,
successful woman.
