Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveHow 15-year-old golfer Avani Prashanth, the maiden of swing, has her sights on Asian Games 2022

Global Indian Exclusive

How 15-year-old golfer Avani Prashanth, the maiden of swing, has her sights on Asian Games 2022

Written by: Ikyatha Yerasala

(December 23, 2021) Driven, zealous and supremely skilled, 15-year-old golfer Avani Prashanth is a teen wonder whose achievements have now made her the number 1 amateur player in the country. The Bengaluru-based ninth grader recently won the Global Prodigy Award 2021, which recognises the top 100 child prodigies around the globe from different verticals.

Thrilled to bits about her latest recognition, Avani tells Global Indian, “It feels great to win this award as so many children who are talented in diverse fields had applied for it. I will be heading to Dubai for the award ceremony in February 2022.”

Avani Prashanth with her winning trophy at All India Ladies Amateur Championship

Road to No. 1

Avani is now the best ranked Indian golfer on the World Amateur Golf Ranking at 136th position globally, and is the number one amateur golfer in India. The All India Ladies Amateur tournament which was held in November, which Avani won, propelled her to the number 1 spot in the country. “This is a prestigious tournament which is played over a period of seven days, and I had to play nine rounds of golf. I’m the only player to have won both the match play and the stroke play, and this rare double victory is all the more special as no one else has won it in the last decade,” beams the teenager who is eyeing the Asian Games for more silverware, and busy training under her British coach.

Avani topped off this major victory with another laurel by winning the IGU All-India Junior Golf Championship in Ahmedabad a week ago. The golfer is also a two-time winner on the Women’s Professional Golf Tour of India. Some of the other milestones in this fervent youngster’s journey are being the best-performing Indian female in the US Kids World Championship held at North Carolina and also at the European Championship held at Scotland.

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A post shared by Avani Prashanth (@avaniprashanth)

The beginning

The road to number one has been filled with arduous work and perseverance for Avani. Her tryst with golf happened when she was barely four. “My father, who used to play golf, wanted to take my granddad to learn the sport. On that particular day, I excitedly asked my father to take me along too, and he did and also gave me a junior club to play with. Although the coach was reluctant about teaching a four-year-old, he was amazed by my hand-eye coordination at such an early age. When he and my dad returned after three hours, they saw that I was still practising with the club. They were convinced that I was born to play golf,” reminisces Avani, who first trained in Gurgaon, post which she went to Nigeria and then finally moved to Bengaluru six years ago. “Bengaluru is where I honed my golf skills properly. I currently train at the Karnataka Golf Association and also at the Eagleton, The Golf Resort and Sir Laurence Brotheridge, my coach from the UK, trains me online.”

Balancing act

A ninth grader from Greenwood High School, Avani credits her school management for their constant support. “My principal Aloysius D’Mello and my teachers are really supportive and accommodative. They let me give my exams according to my schedule and don’t pressurise me even if I am unable to write the exams along with the other students. Recently, I wasn’t able to give my term 1 exams with the others as I was busy playing tournaments, so they created a separate question paper for me, and allowed me to take the exam later,” says a thankful Avani.

Avani Prashanth

Of course, having supportive parents who root for you consistently can make a youngster’s journey towards their goal all the more easier. “My parents Surekha and Prashanth have been very encouraging and supportive. My dad never thought twice about taking me on a tour to Scotland when I was just six, and spending money on the best equipment and coaches to train with. In fact, my dad is my best friend,” shares Avani. Her father works in the pharmaceutical industry and her mother, a home maker travels with Avani on her golfing exploits.

Despite not being able to indulge in typical teen activities like most other people her age, Avani maintains that she doesn’t miss out as she loves playing golf. “I also get to travel across the world for tournaments while playing my favourite sport, so I have the best of everything,” smiles the tiny golfer who idolises American golfer Nelly Korda who won the LPGA seven times.

Making golf more accessible

Golf in India is still a growing sport, and not accessible to everyone because of how expensive it is. While Avani was lucky to have the best training facilities, not every aspiring golfer has that privilege. In order to make the sport more accessible to youngsters, Avani says, “They should create more driving ranges as most of them are currently in private clubs, which you need to be a member of, to be able to undergo golf training. Increasing the number of driving ranges will expose more youngsters to golf and also make the sport more accessible to them.”

Avani Prashanth is an amateur golfer.

As for her future plans, the go-getter has her eyes set on the Asian Games. “My goal for 2022 year is to break into the top 50-100 in the world and win a gold at the Asian Games in China, that will be held in September 2022,” she signs off.

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Published on 23, Dec 2021

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Nirvaan Somany: Young eco-warrior fighting textile waste by converting old jeans into sleeping bags

(November 3, 2023) Denim jeans have remained a timeless wardrobe essential for decades. Yet, the significant environmental footprint of this clothing item remains relatively obscure, despite its considerable magnitude. Delhi teen Nirvaan Somany was no different, as he was proud to call himself an environmentally conscious person until he read a Facebook post that left him aghast. "According to the United Nations, 10,000 litres of water are required to make a single pair of jeans. This left me shocked and the figure stuck with me long afterward. It meant that, with 5 pairs of jeans, I had 50,000 litres worth of water in my wardrobe. I thought I was conscious of my water consumption but I was clearly wrong," he tells Global Indian. This led Nirvaan to start Project Jeans, a social entrepreneurial attempt aimed at mitigating the environmental consequences of denim by converting discarded denim into sleeping bags. [caption id="attachment_33853" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Nirvaan Somany founded Project Jeans[/caption] "We are living in a world running out of water and I often read horrific stories of farmers committing suicide because of drought. I also see heart-wrenching graphics of women and children walking for miles to carry heavy jars of water back

/> Nirvaan Somany founded Project Jeans[/caption]

"We are living in a world running out of water and I often read horrific stories of farmers committing suicide because of drought. I also see heart-wrenching graphics of women and children walking for miles to carry heavy jars of water back home. I wanted to do whatever I could to minimise the impact of this consumption," adds the Shri Ram School student. The project led him to win the Diana Award and 2023 International Young Eco-Hero award which have been a source of encouragement for the teen. "I never imagined my project which began as a simple idea would grow so exponentially. I am happy that I have been able to bring about awareness about the lesser known environmental effects of the fashion industry and help the homeless," says the young environmentalist whose work has impacted many lives.

Till now, they have collected 8000 pairs of jeans under Project Jeans and distributed more than 1000 sleeping bags primarily in Delhi, followed by Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. "We also sent our sleeping bags to Turkey and Syria to aid with their earthquake relief last year," he reveals.

Tackling textile waste

He dove deep into research to find a possible solution and came across the strength, durability, and insulating properties of denim. "I decided to put these to good use to make sleeping bags for the underprivileged." The sight of many people sleeping on park benches or on discarded cardboards on the sides of the roads made him realise how fortunate he is to have a bed to sleep on every day. Moved by it, he asked his mom, who is into the clothing business, to help make a prototype of a recycled denim sleeping bag. It takes seven pairs of denim to make one sleeping bag, which he tried on a winter night on his porch. "It felt comfortable and warm throughout the night, so I knew the concept would work. I then gave it to my house help and security guards to try on. With their input, I made some changes. Later, I went on to train some local tailors, who are now adept at making these sleeping bags," adds a Class 12 student who funded the project through crowdfunding and CSR.

Project Jeans

It all began with a WhatsApp message that Nirvaan sent out after reading the startling facts and figures about denim, and soon they were flooded with messages and calls from people who were eager to help. "We started a social media page and also a website to spread our message and involve others to help us with collection, distribution, and spreading awareness," he reveals. The denim was procured from schools, colleges, and housing societies, and later cut into strips which were then stitched with a lining to make sleeping bags that were cosy enough in winter.

Nirvaan believes that while sustainable fashion is the need of the hour, not many people are making conscious choices. "Sadly, there is not enough information on the negative environmental effects of the fashion industry. Not enough people are aware of the startling facts of the fashion industry. I believe that if there is knowledge, people will make informed choices. There needs to be more focus on informing the consumers about what they are buying. ‘Greenwashing’ is a huge problem with corporates trying to mislead their buyers," he says, adding, "Mindless consumerism without consideration of the environmental impact is a huge problem with long-lasting ramifications. Most people only think of financial cost when making purchasing decisions, and are ignorant of the additional hidden costs, often at the expense of the earth's resources."

Sustainable Fashion - the future

The teenager, who loves to unwind with music, has been a budding musician since the age of four and plays the guitar and sarod. But it's Project Jeans that keeps him occupied most of the time, apart from his studies. In these years that he's been building on Project Jeans, he has learnt "if you are willing to contribute to help the world, no action is too small. All you need to do is to make a start with honesty and dedication and the universe helps you along the way."

With the onset of winter in Delhi already, Nirvaan and his team are working round the clock to prepare more sleeping bags for the chilly winters ahead. Along with the production of sleeping bags, he wants to form an army of volunteers to spread the word about textile waste. "Few people are aware that the fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of annual global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. At this pace, the fashion industry's greenhouse gas emissions will surge more than 50 percent by 2030," he says. Moreover, he is keen to provide employment and would want to train more people in making sleeping bags so that they can be distributed locally in India. "Additionally, I would like to involve the government to ensure that nobody has to sleep on the ground. Our sleeping bags are great for the migrant population too and I hope that they can be used by refugees too," he signs off.

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Youngest author to land a book deal, Schwarzman Scholar Manthan Shah is a fountain of ideas

(April 10, 2022) He's among a small handful of non-Ivy League students to bag the prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship for 2022-23. A quick Google search throws up headlines like, “Three Princeton graduates” and “Four Stanford grads.” Still, Manthan Shah arrives at our video call surprised. “I don’t understand why you want to write about me,” he quips. “There are many better people...” His modesty is misplaced. At 22, Manthan boasts a long list of achievements – he’s a national-level table tennis champion, the youngest Indian to win the Spartan Trifecta, a global endurance challenge and the youngest writer to sign with Penguin Random House for his book, Unstoppable, a collection of stories on young Indians who have defied the odds on their journey to success. In August, Manthan will begin his year-long master’s in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing’s Forbidden City. Manthan has also had his own podcast from the age of 19. On Planet Impact, he interviews social entrepreneurs across the world. [caption id="attachment_14637" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Manthan Shah[/caption] Entry to The Forbidden City At 22, Shah speaks with a wisdom that far belies his age, brought on, maybe by years of disciplined, athletic training as a table-tennis player.

han Shah[/caption]

Entry to The Forbidden City

At 22, Shah speaks with a wisdom that far belies his age, brought on, maybe by years of disciplined, athletic training as a table-tennis player. and of having to rethink his dreams when his peers were just beginning to form theirs. The Schwarzman Scholarship, Manthan tells Global Indian, came almost out of the blue. A student at SP Jain School of Global Management (Mumbai), it was the unerring faith his dean, Professor Golo Weber, instilled in him that pushed Manthan to apply - he put together his application, statement of purpose and video essay in under a week.

His application was among 400 selected out of 3,000 for an interview round held in Beijing, London, New York or Singapore. The interview, Manthan admits, was quite formidable, with a panel of CEOs, former prime ministers, heads of global companies like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Stanley, and parliamentarians. Asked how he would bring nations together in a polarised world, he said with aplomb, describing what he calls the “Pearl Harbour moment,” which redefined the course of the Second World War. “In terms of the climate, we have Pearl Harbour moments every day and still, we refuse to act.” Unsurprisingly, his master’s programme will focus on achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

[caption id="attachment_14633" align="aligncenter" width="516"] Manthan with Professor Golo Weber[/caption]

“People have prepared for years for this,” Manthan remarks. “I just happened to get an email from my Professor Golo, with a list of scholarships he thought would suit me." With the deadline so imminent, Manthan didn't think he stood a chance, although his professor disagreed. “I had two weeks, I procrastinated for one,” he laughs. “But my professor helped me with everything - the essay prompts, my CV and best of all, a glowing letter of recommendation.” That two-page letter is now framed on his bedroom wall. His editor at Penguin Random House and his boss, Shuva Raha, Head of New Initiatives at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water also chipped in at once. "They are the three busiest people on earth but they did it immediately,” he grins.

The early years

Born and raised in Ahmednagar (120 km from Pune), Manthan was six when he played his first game of table tennis. Very soon, he found he was beating people twice his age. “At 10, I begged dad to move us to Pune. Luckily, he listened to me,” Manthan says. He moved to Pune with his mother (his father remained in Ahmednagar to run the family business). Thus, began of a life of athletic rigour and discipline. Home-schooled to enable training - it involved seven hours a day, six days a week –fitness for an hour, training for two, meditation, journaling, more training, and yoga.

His efforts paid off. He represented India as Under 18 team captain at the Pacific School Games in Australia. In India, he led the Maharashtra team to two golds, the individual and the team medals, at the School Games Federation of India National Championships 2014-15. Although he was enrolled at Symbiosis School (Pune), but had “a deal with the principal,” as was playing most of the time.

[caption id="attachment_14631" align="aligncenter" width="553"] At the Pacific School Games in Adelaide, Australia[/caption]

At first glance, it seems like a journey filled with triumphs. Manthan disagrees. “It was the tail end of a bell curve,” he says. “There were sparks of achievement in between many, many failures.” His relationship with his coach was an unhappy one and there were infrastructure constraints. “I would have had to go to China or Germany. I couldn’t have stayed in Pune,” Manthan says, adding, “It didn’t seem worth the trouble, it seemed like an endless struggle for mediocrity. You work so hard with no assurance of success.”

The road less travelled

Thus, taking a step back, at 17, from his dream of being an Olympian, he recalls, “I felt like I wanted to make things easier for young Indians and hit the pause button on table tennis.” Instead, Manthan took a gap year, worked for some non-profits (Teach for India, the Akanksha Foundation, and local orphanages). He started his own organisation too, reaching out to children with potential, creating a network to connect volunteers with various NGOs.

It takes some prodding before Manthan opens up about the toll that a gap year took. He recounts a dreamy, Kerouac-like experience of hitching rides and sleeping anywhere (including a temple) as he travelled across India. “I was angry and resentful and travelling without a plan,” he admits as he evaluated career avenues, and how to find success. “I was looking for books to motivate me but there was quite a dearth,” Manthan remarks, adding. “A lot was written by older people who said vague things like ‘dream big’ and ‘think positive.’ In America, they wrote about Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, whose stories can never be compared with ours.”

[caption id="attachment_14632" align="aligncenter" width="759"] Manthan Shah in 2019, became the youngest Indian to win the Spartan Trifecta[/caption]

So, “as a young, overconfident Indian, I decided to write my own book.” A two-year diploma (remote) in creative writing later, he learned to tell a story. “It was all very textbook. Then I did a six-month course at Georgetown University, under Dr Eric Koester, who helped me write the first few chapters.”

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water

Failures are just stepping stones for Shah, so when his intern application at CEEW didn't amount to anything - he invited the CEO, Dr Ghosh to be on his podcast, with a passing mention of his application. Far from sitting neck deep in research, Manthan found himself consulting ministers, reaching out to parliaments and working with the United Nations. “My personal project was to interact with the heads of all the smart city projects,” he says, adding, “I was talking to heads of major conglomerates, including JK Cements and ITC on how they were reducing carbon footprints.”

The book, Unstoppable, was also unfolding. An author on his podcast connected him to an editor. Comparing offers from Westland and Penguin Random House, two proteges (both older), who were learning about podcasts, helped him create a “mind-map” of people to feature.

[caption id="attachment_14636" align="aligncenter" width="682"] Hosting his podcast, Planet Impact, in Ahmednagar in 2021[/caption]

Thrilled at a book coming out, he confesses he is not in a hurry to write a second. “The research took months to complete, the writing took two years. Also, there is nervous anticipation. I worry about how many people will buy my book,” he mulls.

Still unconvinced about his worthiness, Shah speaks with gratitude and fondness about those who stood by him. “I am where I am because of all the strangers who championed and honed me,” Manthan smiles. “I’m a vessel for the support and encouragement they had - strangers, my parents, brother, teachers and Dr Ghosh. I’m merely a sum of their contributions.”

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Reading Time: 6 min

Dancing her way to glory: Vriti Gujral is taking Kathak to new heights

(December 11, 2022) It was just to attend a rehearsal for the upcoming event that Padma Vibhushan, Pandit Birju Maharaj - one of the most eminent Kathak exponents - had come to Delhi that day. However, the events that unfolded gave the country a young and exceptionally talented Kathak dancer, Vriti Gujral, who is now taking this Indian classical dance form to the world. Impressed by the grace of then eleven-year-old Vriti, Pandit Birju Maharaj invited the young artist to perform during his show at the World Cultural Festival - a solo, seven-minute-long Kathak recital. [caption id="attachment_25245" align="aligncenter" width="479"] Vriti Gujral, Kathak exponent[/caption] The dancer, who is 16-years-old now, has since performed on various national and international stages and has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Global Child Prodigy Award. "I have been performing kathak for the past eight years. So, it is like a part of me now. It’s not that when I practice kathak only then I’m into dance, but I instead carry it into my everyday life. I have learned many things from the dance form, and it undoubtedly affects my life," the young Global Indian said during an interview. Born to dance Vriti's journey as a

instead carry it into my everyday life. I have learned many things from the dance form, and it undoubtedly affects my life," the young Global Indian said during an interview.

Born to dance

Vriti's journey as a dancer started at the age of six, when her mother enrolled her in a music institute. "My mother always wanted me to explore myself in areas beyond academics as well. So, she took me to an institute where they gave three classes - western dance, piano, and kathak. I liked the other courses, but I was fascinated by them when I saw dancers wearing ghungroo and performing kathak. That was precisely what started the spark in me. When I started learning it, I became more passionate about it. I began exploring other aspects of kathak, such as the chakras, footwork, and abhinaya," the young dancer shared.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tglveOAA2I

Soon, the youngster took to various stages and won the hearts of many maestros. However, it took a major turn in 2016, during the auditions for World Cultural Festival. Over 37,000 artists performed in Delhi during this festival, however, it was Vriti who grabbed the attention of Pt Birju Maharaj. However, all was not so rosy. The long rehearsal hours took a toll on the young dancer's health. But, Vriti was determined to brave all the odds. On the day of her performance, the dancer went on the stage with a bandaged blister, her feet throbbing in pain. "I remember my blisters were painful. But once I was on the stage, and the spotlight fell on me, I forgot all about it," she shared. Her performance at the Vasantosav festival ended with thunderous applause and earned her invitations to several other dance festivals.

Following her passion

Vriti's perfection of mudras and flawless expression earned Vriti a scholarship from the Centre of Cultural Resource and Training (CCRT), India. In 2020, the youngster received the Global Child Prodigy Award, for her exceptional dancing talent in Kathak. A student of esteemed kathak exponent, Pandit Barun Banerjee, Vriti dreams of becoming a professional dancer, just like her idol Pt. Birju Maharaj, and take kathak to a level where today's generation can not only enjoy it but also aspire for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp77ohIOGcg

"I want to be a professional classical dancer and a choreographer. I aim to take the Kathak dance form to the biggest international stages. We know that the young generation finds it difficult to relate to kathak and thinks it’s boring. I wish to break these stereotypes and ensure that they relate to it as it’s our heritage, and we have to take it ahead," the young dancer said.

Follow Vriti Gujral on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube

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Extreme sports: Prajwal Pingali’s life as a mountain biker

(March 23, 2024) Prajwal Pingali loves to challenge his lungs and limbs, 24x7. Each time the youngster bounces his way down the rutted trails and rocks on his mountain bike, he’s on cloud nine. He has had his share of nasty falls and close shaves, but that hardly comes in the way of his next big adventure. “I love the feeling that no matter how hard you prepare for the race, you will always be bested by the mountains. They are brutal to everyone and especially those who set out to win,” smiles ace mountain biker and cyclist Prajwal Pingali, as he settles down for an exclusive with Global Indian. Racing life From the US to India and Belgium to Germany, the 22-year-old has been riding non-stop in the last few years, participating in one event after the other, both nationally and internationally. “Mountain biking really requires very little to get in. You need a bike, safety gear, and a positive attitude,” says Prajwal. The youngster has been cycling since his days in the US, where his family had shifted for four years, since 2001. “But I only started cycling as a sport around 2012 after moving back to Hyderabad when a

ternationally. “Mountain biking really requires very little to get in. You need a bike, safety gear, and a positive attitude,” says Prajwal.

The youngster has been cycling since his days in the US, where his family had shifted for four years, since 2001. “But I only started cycling as a sport around 2012 after moving back to Hyderabad when a friend of mine rode 66 km on his cycle with his dad for Independence Day,” he recalls.

That sparked something in Prajwal Pingali and he knew he had to give it a try. He joined his friend for a couple of short rides ranging from 2-5 km and decided to train up for the 100km Republic Day Ride. “It took a bit of time to build up the confidence and strength to undertake such a ride. Finally in 2014 I completed my first 100km ride with my friend on Republic Day.”

Long rides

Things developed quickly from there. In 2014, Prajwal rode 500-km from Hyderabad to Sevagram within three days. Thereafter, he kept riding the Ultra-endurance rides with different groups. In 2016, he met riders and the owners of The Bike Affair, a specialty bike store in Hyderabad. “They were extremely friendly and welcoming. I bought my first road bike at the end of the same year for an 800 km ride from Chikmagalur to Gokarna. It was with this same group that I enrolled for my first road race in December 2016,” he says.

But that turned out to be an unpleasant experience for Prajwal as he couldn’t keep up and didn’t finish the race in the end. “That was not going to pass with me. I was determined to race and win,” informs Prajwal, who then stepped up the focus and preparations which led him into full time racing.

First win

In 2017, he began participating in several cycling championships in Hyderabad and Bangalore. In October that year, Prajwal won his first Stage Race, Tour of Glory (a road race that takes place over multiple days with winners for each stage and an overall winner.

Around this time, two of his school friends who were also cyclists, convinced him to get a mountain bike (MTB) and join them on the trails. Prajwal’s first ever road racing bike was a Merida Scultura 200 2017 and his first ever mountain bike was a Merida big seven 20D. He now owns four bikes, all for different purposes and uses, which includes Specialized Tarmac SL6 2018 (road racing), Specialized Epic 2019 (Cross Country Racing), Merida Scultura 200 2017 (general purpose) and 4. Commencal Meta 29 AM 2021 (Enduro and Downhill race bike, his current primary bike).

The year of racing

The year 2018 was the year of racing for Prajwal. He would spend one weekend every month travelling to Bangalore to participate in races followed by a summer in Belgium to race there and upon his return, it was right back to travelling from location to location across India to race.

In 2018, he won the Inter-district Mountain Bike meet in U-18 category and set the fastest time of the track in all categories. He stood 2nd in the Inter-district road race (U18) and at the MTB Nationals, he placed 6th in the XCO (cross country olympic) and 9th in the XCT (Cross Country Timed). “To wrap up the year, I raced in the International Race, MTB Kerala, organised by the Cycling Federation of India and the Union Cycliste Internationale,” he informs.

Since then, Prajwal Pingali has been racing countless races in Road and MTB in many places across India. “I now race Enduro and Downhill races,” he says.

Competing in Belgium

Belgium is a world apart in terms of difficulty and competition, feels the young mountain biker. “Like many European nations, sports is an extremely important aspect of daily life and the culture around cycling is very supported there,” he says.

Prajwal rode shoulder-to-shoulder in a group of 60-100 at speeds between 30-80 kmph. He participated in nine races but could finish only two. “Racing in Belgium was quite difficult and required a lot of effort,” recalls the youngster.

Tough race

Prajwal’s personal pick for his toughest race is Monduro, a race held in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, organised by the Tawang Cycling Association in 2023.

The two-day Enduro race takes place at an altitude of 4000m above sea level, the highest enduro race in the world. “As this race takes place on herding trails, the trails have a raw feel to them, very chattery and bumpy and they stretch on for what feels like eternity,” says Prajwal.

The rock gardens are massive and technical and above all, the competition has strong riders from across the world. “Monduro has my heart. Apart from the race, it is the location and the kind and friendly people there that make me want to return to the place,” says the champ.

Hyderabad to US

Born in Hyderabad in September 2001, his family shifted to Philadelphia, US for about 4 years. Prajwal was just nine months old then.

In his growing up years, Prajwal was interested in many sports, physics, history, acting and theatre productions. His father, Pratap Pingali works as a Mentor for startups and businesses in T-Hub (Telangana Hub) while his mother runs the HUFT (Heads Up For Tails, Hyderabad) store chain.

Prajwal studied in no less than four different schools — Sloka (primary), Parkwood School International (primary), Glendale International School (middle), and Sancta Maria International School (high).

Work outs

Racing requires a lot of practice and working out, on and off the bike. Prajwal’s normal routine would include between 5-6 days of working out, ranging from on-bike high intensity interval training, on-bike endurance, skills sessions, fun trail rides, as well as off-bike strength training, Off-bike high intensity interval training, and muscle activation/engagement exercises.

Prajwal Pingali is not a strong advocate for strict diets unless there is a specific reason and it is monitored by a medical expert. The rule for him is simple — “everything in moderation. If you eat it, you have to burn it.”

Destination Dirt

In Hyderabad, Prajwal Pingali is part of a Mountain Biking group called Destination Dirt where the members build trails, organise meetups and rides, as well as host beginners to MTB workshops and teach people to safely ride trails and enjoy themselves. “We have riders of different levels and backgrounds.”

The dangers of the sport

Unfortunately, says Prajwal, cycling in any form is very dangerous in India. “MTB is in my opinion safer than commuting or road racing since the chance of a two-ton vehicle slamming into you is basically non-existent,” feels the MTB champion adding that all the risk in MTB is in the hands of the rider and not someone else.

In 2019, Prajwal had a major accident when a car crashed into him as he was cycling around Araku Valley with his team. “I suffered injuries to my head and leg. The impact was such that I was briefly sent flying and landed close to the edge of the hill, luckily there were barriers,” he recalls.

The mountain biker has had crashes before but none this serious. “I was hospitalised and had to get a skin graft. I was wheel-chair bound for one month,” says Prajwal, adding almost 98% of his falls have been injury-free or barely anything serious.

This experience shaped his life. “The way we build our cities and roads must change to prevent needless deaths due to a split second mistake or a distracted driver. Our safety should not be entrusted in others’ hands,” he says.

What does mountain biking take?

“You will fall from time to time, you will not be racing at the pro level immediately, you will make mistakes and sometimes parts will break, but if you don’t fuss and whine about every issue and actually believe in yourself, then you can easily become a mountain biker,” says Prajwal.

Life outside of cycling

Prajwal says he deals with ADHD and is neuro-divergent. “I tend to have a vast multitude of passions and hobbies that I take up and add to my skill set, like tools in a box,” he says.The youngster has a keen interest in History and Physics, likes playing the bass guitar, drumming, action photography and videography. He loves camping and hiking, blogging, theatre and acting, dance and even typewriting.

Prajwal Pingali always wanted to become a pilot. “Covid-19 badly affected the plan. Although the dream is alive and burning strong, it must sit on the backburner till the moment is right,” says the cyclist, who is currently helping his family run their franchisee, HUFT in Hyderabad.

Currently, he is applying to many colleges in Germany for a BSc in Geography with a focus on Urban Planning. “I chose Germany as I have lived there and like the access to mountain biking trails and resources that I have. It is also beneficial that I can speak in German.”

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Shafali Verma: The captain who led India’s victory in the Under-19 Women’s Cricket World Cup 

(February 8, 2023) “India, this is for you,” tweeted the overjoyed captain Shafali Verma after lifting the ICC Under-19 Women's Cricket World Cup on January 29, 2023. It was a landmark day in the history of women’s cricket in India, and Shafali was teary-eyed. With matches in the Twenty20 cricket format, the tournament organised by the International Cricket Council was the first in the women’s category, even though the Under-19 World Cup in the men’s category is being played since 1988. [caption id="attachment_27285" align="aligncenter" width="898"] Shafali Verma[/caption] Under Shafali’s leadership, the Indian team defeated England by seven wickets in the exciting finals held at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom in South Africa. India emerged a winner amongst sixteen teams that competed in the tournament. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, “the win would inspire a whole generation to take up sports". Not unlike other cricketers it was Tendulkar who had inspired Shafali Verma, the Haryana girl from small town Rohtak, to take up the sport. Global Indian  takes a look at the extraordinary journey of this brilliant, young player who is basking in the glory of bringing the maiden Under-19 Women's Cricket World Cup trophy home. Rohtak girl’s foray in the world of cricket She

n data-contrast="auto">Under Shafali’s leadership, the Indian team defeated England by seven wickets in the exciting finals held at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom in South Africa. India emerged a winner amongst sixteen teams that competed in the tournament. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, “the win would inspire a whole generation to take up sports".

Not unlike other cricketers it was Tendulkar who had inspired Shafali Verma, the Haryana girl from small town Rohtak, to take up the sport.

Global Indian  takes a look at the extraordinary journey of this brilliant, young player who is basking in the glory of bringing the maiden Under-19 Women's Cricket World Cup trophy home.

Rohtak girl’s foray in the world of cricket

She was quite young when she first stepped on a cricket pitch. Disguised as her brother, who was sick, Shafali Verma played at the under-12 national school championship and ended up winning the Player of the Match award. A first-class cricketer today, this Haryana girl has carved a niche for herself in the world of cricket. The youngest Indian cricketer to play in an international match, Shafali was just 15 when she was selected to play at the Women’s 20 International Series.

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Interestingly, the teen prodigy became the youngest Indian half-centurion while playing against West Indies during her debut series. Her first international series turned out to be a great one. Scoring 158 in just five matches, she became the player of the series, garnering lots of attention for her fantastic performance.

By 2021, the 2004-born had built a good repertoire – becoming the youngest player to represent India in all three formats of international cricket at the age of 17. Her brilliant performances earned her a place in the Indian team for the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup and subsequently made her the strongest contender to be the captain of the Indian team at the under-19 world cup.

Off the bat

Daughter of a jewellery shop owner, Shafali has been playing cricket since she was just eight years old. The young cricketer was trained by her father, Sanjeev, who once aspired to be a cricketer himself.

[caption id="attachment_19207" align="aligncenter" width="825"] Shafali Verma in action[/caption]

A strict mentor, Sanjeev devised a rigorous training schedule for his daughter. However, he would also give her a reward of ₹5 whenever Shafali hit a sixer at the local ground. Recognising that Shafali could make an excellent cricketer, her father later made her join the Ram Narayan Cricket Club, Rohtak.

Crediting her father for her success, Shafali wrote on social media, “I am who I am today because of my father. He has always been the most supportive and friendly dad in the world.”

An eventful journey

The alumna of Mandeep Senior Secondary School, Rohtak has set quite a number of records. In June 2021, she became the youngest player, male or female, to represent India in all three formats of international cricket. In October 2022, she became the youngest cricketer to complete 1000 runs in T20 internationals. She also became the youngest cricketer ever to play in the final of the Women’s World Cup.

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Even though she is quite busy, the sportsperson always manages to find time between matches and practice sessions, to connect with her fans through social media.

Like other cricketers, Shafali too idolised one of the greatest cricketers of all times, Sachin Tendulkar. “The reason I took up cricket is because of Sachin sir. My family has just not idolized but worshipped him,” she had once mentioned in a post.

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