Natasha Palha has become the delight of the state. Growing up with her
hands wrapped around a tennis racquet since the age of seven, she developed a
mindset of eat, drink and sleep tennis and her steadfast approach has paid off
in the biggest way possible as she has received a call up to the national
tennis team for September’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
“It is a really great achievement and I’m happy to be a part of the
Indian team for the Asian Games. I have been working very hard towards this
goal and I’m happy that I’ve achieved it,” says an elated Natasha.
Natasha, who is currently in Bangalore playing in an ITF tournament,
feels that the opportunity of making her debut at the XVII Asiad has come at
the right time at age 20. She considers this her breakthrough year as she also
won the nationals this year. Despite missing out on a couple of big tournaments
in India and Thailand, she feels that her performances helped her achieve the
No.3 ranking in India and therefore cement a place in the Asian Games.
No one is prouder of this feat than Natasha’s parents Brian and Dr
Ofelia Palha, who have cheered and supported their daughter from the time she
took to the sport as a little girl. “It is a great achievement. Her hard work,
efficiency and determination to be a perfectionist at the game is what keeps
her going,” says proud mum Ofelia.
Dad Brian feels that his daughter got to the top of the mountain the
right way, through sheer hard work on the tennis court. He also adds that the
financial assistance of the Dempo Group through their Goodwill Ambassador
Program helped her realise her dreams.
Expressing his delight that their Goodwill Ambassador Program is
bearing fruit, Shrinivas Dempo, Chairman of Dempo Group, says, “It is a very
proud moment for Goa that a Goan girl has been selected to represent India at
the Asian Games. Our vision has finally paid off; this is exactly why we had
formulated this scheme.”
Syed Zeeshan Ali, India’s Asian Games coach, recalls watching Natasha
play 10 years back in a tournament in Dubai. “She was very talented, even at
that time. I knew she had a bright future. It is good to see her in the Asian
Games team and it is a big opportunity for her to go out there and do something
on a much bigger platform.”
Natasha’s topmost priority now is to make the country proud. “I hope to
do well at the Asian Games. It will be tough competing against the best from
Asia but I’ll give it my best,” she concludes.
