Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveDev Shah: 2023 Scripps Spelling Bee Champion

Dev Shah: 2023 Scripps Spelling Bee Champion

Compiled by: Amrita Priya

(Jun 9, 2023) Carrying forward the legacy set by 26 Indian origin teens before him, Dev Shah, an eighth-grader from Florida, is the 2023 winner of the prestigious Scripps Spelling Bee. After three years of dedicated study and navigating numerous setbacks, Shah outperformed 230 participants to lift the coveted cup. The win also comes with a cash prize of $50,000 and a commemorative medal.

Shah had to prove his mettle through 14 challenging rounds. He made it, though, spelling his way through tricky words like ‘probouleutic’, ‘schistorrhachis’, and ‘zwitterion’ to emerge the winner. The teenager appeared dazed as he lifted the cup, remarking, “It’s surreal. My legs are still shaking.”

Indians in USA | Dev Shah | Global Indian

Dev Shah, 2023 Scripps Spelling Bee Champion

The word that secured victory

It was the word ‘psammophile’ that determined Dev’s win. Although the smile on his face showed his confidence, he asked for all the details first – definition (it’s an organism that thrives in sandy areas), part of speech, orthography and usage in a sentence, before venturing the spelling. Later in an interview with NDTV, he remarked, “I expected to spell it correctly because I had studied it before.” In another interview he mentioned, “I was confident, I knew it”.

On the day of the championship, before his fate was determined, the teenager had to endure one final commercial break. “That was the most nerve-wracking experience, and Charlotte (the runner up) and I just talked about what’s going to happen next,” he said. When the final question was posed it took him just 45 seconds to seal his win.

Though Indian-origin teens have ruled the roost in Scripps Spelling Bee championship in the United States, Dev brought the first victory to his state, Florida since 1999. A resident of Largo, near St Petersburg, he wanted to win the championship anyhow as it was his fourth attempt and the last chance.

Not an overnight success

Dev’s win has been a culmination of years of commitment. He participated in 2019 and came in at the 51st rank, then fell to 76 in 2021. Even in 2022, he did not progress beyond the regional competition in his home state and the cup went to another Indian-origin teen, Harini Logan.

In an interview just after the win, the Global Indian said, “As my parents rushed on stage to embrace me, it reinforced my belief that I should never give up.” Being in eighth grade, this was his final year to compete. Seeing other kids winning over the years inspired him and kept him motivated to keep trying despite the previous results in which he was slipping down in ranking year after year.

Talking about his predecessors, the 14-year-old said, “If they could do it, I could do it too, I had been telling myself.” During the past year he devoted 10 hours of study every day to perform his best in the final year of his attempt.

Inspirations of life

The teenager, who is a fan of tennis champ Roger Federer, and the movie ‘La La Land’, looks at his grandmother as his biggest inspiration. “I am very close to my grandmother. She’s been an inspiration to me and I am very grateful to her for coming here. She’s been a great part of every moment from beginning to end,” he said talking about his spelling bee journey.

His parents were the first to notice Dev’s remarkable memory. When he was only three years old, Dev became fascinated with a geography programme on their iPad. They saw he had a streak of curiosity and channelled his urge to learn and explore into a fascination for spelling and words. His father became his first coach.

Dev Shah with his family, minutes after the win on the spell bee stage

Dev secured his win in the 2023 championship under the guidance of his coach, Scott Remer, while his parents who gave him confidence to keep going despite slipping below in ranks in his previous three attempts.

Life ahead

This year the youngster has left behind two big stressors – middle school and the spelling bee. Hogging the limelight for the time-being he is looking forward to start doing the ‘normal stuff’ with friends like before. Upon his return to Florida from Maryland where the competition was held the youngster seemed happy to see not just family and friends but also his previous and current school’s teachers waiting eagerly to welcome him.

“I am glad to be back,” said the champion who wishes to be a neuro-surgeon as well as an engineer with little clue whether he would be able to pursue both. He is all set to start as a freshman at Largo High School, soon.

When reporters asked him tips to remember spellings, he had a playful reply. “Now we have spellcheck so you don’t have to worry about your spelling,” he smiled, while the crowd gathered to welcome him at the airport giggled. They were carrying a banner with ‘psammophile,’ written on it – the word that Dev spelled correctly for the win.

Dev Shah received a warm welcome in his home state, Florida

No mean feat

This year it was the 95th year of the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition. It began with about 11 million students in grades 8 and younger who competed in local and regional spelling bee competitions to qualify.

The final championship welcomed 231 spellers from the United States and its territories – Canada, Ghana, and The Bahamas. After competing in quarterfinals and the semi-final rounds held on May 30 and May 31, the competition narrowed down to 11 finalists who competed on the night of June 1, 2023 in a live event.

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Published on 09, Jun 2023

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Young mountaineer Arjun Vajpai: Conquering peaks and inspiring dreams

(August 8, 2023) Stranded under heavy snowfall for a span of seventy-two hours at an altitude of 7,000 meters, Arjun Vajpai experienced a loss of sensation along the left side of his body. Left to his own devices, as his Sherpa guides had already left due to his ill-fated first attempt to conquer Mount Cho Oyu in Nepal back in 2012. The young mountaineer, however, is not your typical teenager. Just two years prior, in 2010, he had achieved an unparalleled feat in the world of mountaineering – successfully reaching the summit of Mount Everest – thereby becoming the youngest Indian ever to accomplish such a remarkable feat. Further cementing his legacy, the mountaineer went on to claim the title of the youngest individual to conquer Lhotse in 2011, as well as becoming the youngest mountaineer to triumph over Mount Manaslu. [caption id="attachment_32453" align="aligncenter" width="382"] Mountaineer Arjun Vajpai[/caption] Having faced numerous challenges before, Arjun embarked on the excruciating descent from Mount Cho Oyu, a grueling journey that required him to crawl for 17 hours, relying solely on his right arm and leg. Undeterred by previous setbacks, he made a triumphant return in 2016, conquering the peak he once struggled with.

ey that required him to crawl for 17 hours, relying solely on his right arm and leg. Undeterred by previous setbacks, he made a triumphant return in 2016, conquering the peak he once struggled with. At such a young age, Arjun stands as the world's youngest mountaineer to have summited six out of the 14 highest mountains worldwide. Global Indian takes an in-depth look into the remarkable journey of this exceptional mountaineer.

Adventurous streak

The mountaineer was born in 1993 to Col. Sanjeev Vajpai and Priya Vajpai, and his passion for trekking and mountaineering traces back to his early childhood. “I was an athletic kid throughout my school years. You name the sport - volleyball, football, hockey, basketball, shot put, long jump, karate - and I have played it. Very early on in my life, I realised that if I wanted to do something in life, it would be with these set of hands and legs,” the mountaineer said during an interview.

[caption id="attachment_32459" align="aligncenter" width="683"] Arjun Vajpai at the Kanchenjunga base camp.[/caption]

Speaking about his first introduction to the mountains, he shared, "In my sixth grade, I was visiting my grandfather’s house in Pune for summer vacations. We went for a short hike to the Sahyadri Hills. Since it was my first climb, I reached the top and when I saw the sunset, I just asked myself, “If it looks so beautiful here, how beautiful must it look from the highest point on this planet?”

And there was no turning back for the mountaineer after that. He nurtured this interest from a tender age and honed his skills through training at the prestigious Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi.

More than a record

Arjun's true passion lies in scaling mountains. For him, records are not the ultimate goal. “It makes me feel super happy but I’m not someone who chases records,” Arjun said in an interview, “It’s a moment of pride, not just for me but for the country, to hold a title and each time motivates me to climb more and take India’s flag to some of the highest peaks on earth. I want to be the youngest in the world to do all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres.”

Meticulous planning is the foundation of every expedition for this young mountaineer. He initiates the process by envisioning the route, delving into archives, and immersing himself in learning about the mountain's intricacies. The mountaineer thoroughly studies the experiences of past trekkers who have conquered the same peak, gathering valuable insights for his own journey. “I also make a mental note of how many ropes we are likely to require as it helps me get a feel of the mountain mentally,” he said.

Recently, the young mountaineer encountered a setback during his expedition on Mount Annapurna 1. Frostbite in both feet forced him to make the difficult decision to turn back, just 150 meters shy of the summit. Undeterred by this challenge, the mountaineer remains resolute and optimistic. In one of his Instagram posts, he pledges to return next season and conquer the mountain with renewed determination. "I’m safe and down at Pokhara today. Feet still hurt a little but the summit still echoes in my heart so close," he wrote.

Adding to his list of accomplishments, the young adventurer, Arjun Vajpai, founded the Arjun Vajpai Outdoor Academy with a noble mission. His aim is to instill a love for adventure sports in young children and promote a healthy and active lifestyle among them. In a media interaction, Arjun expressed his desire to provide a platform for kids to pursue sport climbing or wall climbing as a competitive sport, especially with its inclusion in the Olympics.

Through his academy's efforts, they have successfully installed over 200 climbing walls in various schools and colleges across India, fostering a culture of athleticism and exploration. Beyond this, Arjun's profound affection for mountains led him to create a warm and inviting homestay named "Vaikunth Home" in Almora. The cozy, red-roofed retreat serves as a haven for those seeking to immerse themselves in the tranquil beauty of the mountains.

Follow Arjun Vajpai on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

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Ishaan Patel: Indian-American’s nonprofit aids unprivileged kids in India & US

(November 26, 2023) Only two percent of humanitarian aid goes towards education - this was something that Connecticut-based Ishaan Patel found out at the age of 11 after having learnt about her aunt's volunteering to teach impoverished children in Jaipur, India. Getting to know about schools where children were eager to learn but lacked the essential tools, they needed to do their work left Ishaan shocked. "She showed me pictures and told me stories about underfunded schools. The students attended class with no desks, no pencils, and no books. I was amazed and thought about all of the things available in my school. At the private school I attend (Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut), lessons are taught on smart boards, and assignments are completed on laptops. When I saw the pictures from India, I wanted to help," the Indian American wrote in Childhood Explorer. This passion for helping children led to the birth of Planting Pencils, a charity that raises money and collects school supplies for underserved and underfunded schools in the US, India, and Africa. [caption id="attachment_25046" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Ishaan Patel launched Planting Pencils[/caption] Growing up in Connecticut, his doctor parents who emigrated from India in their childhood

width="720"] Ishaan Patel launched Planting Pencils[/caption]

Growing up in Connecticut, his doctor parents who emigrated from India in their childhood told Ishaan of the hardships they faced in India as children, and always encouraged him to help others. And he found the first window of opportunity, he couldn't help but take a leap of faith. Coming from a privileged background, he understood its meaning and knew that he needed to make an impact. "We are the next generation and I see it as the job of privileged students to help those who are not privileged," he added.

After hearing the stories of children in impoverished schools in India from his aunt, the Global Indian was keen to help. But how was still a big question for him, as he thought he was too young to make a difference? However, a summer in 2015 spent at a leadership conference at Stanford University and a financial camp on Wall Street turned the tide for him and made him understand that he had the power to make a difference despite being young. That's when he began researching and was surprised to find out that more than 700 million adults in the world are illiterate and do not have the skills or awareness to improve the living conditions for themselves or their families.

[caption id="attachment_25047" align="aligncenter" width="714"] Ishaan Patel with his mom who helped him with the launch of Planting Pencils[/caption]

The startling facts nudged the Indian American enough to start Planting Pencils in 2015. He began by designing a website, and creating a permanent collection site at a Staples store in West Hartford to ensure steady donations of pencils, pens, crayons, rulers, used calculators, and computers. His mom helped him to raise funds by setting up donation boxes in different locations and through fundraising events. "ReBoot Computers in my home town agreed to collect and refurbish donated old computers so we can give them to students who cannot afford to buy their new ones. In honor of Read Across America Day on March 2nd, we delivered the charity’s first donations to two non-profit schools in Hartford, Connecticut," said the Indian American.

In just a year, Ishaan's work was recognised by the Milan Cultural Organisation in Hartford, and later, the Syracuse University Graduate Student organisation chose Planting Pencils as the beneficiary for its annual weekend fundraising MBA Olympic games. In a few years, Planting Pencils have helped underprivileged children across the US, India, and Africa by providing them with supplies.

[caption id="attachment_25048" align="aligncenter" width="438"] Ishaan Patel[/caption]

Ishaan, who is currently an undergraduate student researcher at Baylor University, plans to build a school in India sometime where he will provide food and water. "I believe that if students are healthy and comfortable, they will benefit even more from the internet access and computers I plan to provide for them. If we provide food and water in the schools, students wouldn’t have to worry about those needs during school or back home. If people are educated, they’ll be able to be self-sufficient," he added. The Indian American believes that the Chinese proverb "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day but teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime" illustrates that education is a priceless commodity, and gives one the power to change one's destiny. "I believe that we can make a difference - one pencil, one book, one child at a time."

Follow Ishaan Patel on Linkedin

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Best of both worlds: Meet Vaibhav Mohanty – an accomplished scholar and musician

(January 25, 2024) At 15, when most kids were in school and still working on deciding their career path, Vaibhav Mohanty was already accepted to Harvard. By 2019, the youngster had graduated from the University with a master's degree in chemistry (theory) and a bachelor's degree summa cum laude in chemistry and physics. But, if you think he is just another brilliant nerd, you are wrong. The young scholar is also quite an accomplished musician - a composer, arranger, pianist, saxophonist, and music theorist, who has performed across the United States and on international stages. "I am passionate about music and science," shares the scholar as he connects with Global Indian, adding, "My current goal is to extend my physics-based theories of evolution to understand how molecular-level structural changes in proteins can induce changes in evolutionary fitness of viruses and cancers." A student of Harvard Medical School and MIT, where he is pursuing medical training as well as a second Ph.D. (in chemistry), Vaibhav is the recipient of the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. "It’s an honour. It will help me connect with several other scholars who are working in the same field as I am

ncers." A student of Harvard Medical School and MIT, where he is pursuing medical training as well as a second Ph.D. (in chemistry), Vaibhav is the recipient of the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. "It’s an honour. It will help me connect with several other scholars who are working in the same field as I am and gain so much more knowledge from them," he says.

A beautiful mind

Born to Bidyut and Sangeeta Mohanty in Charleston, South Carolina - who moved to the USA in the early 90s - Vaibhav began learning piano at the age of four. "I wrote my first piece for solo piano in memory of a late elementary school teacher when I was nine years old," shares the scholar who loves watching old Bollywood movies with his parents. "Eventually, I began composing works for concert bands as well as chamber ensembles. I also performed in concerts as guest conductor for the premiere of my first symphonic work when I was about 12 years old." In fact, throughout and after high school, Vaibhav taught music at the summer SMAART programme of the Charleston County School District. Additionally, he taught music theory at a private music studio in Charleston as well.

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A post shared by Vaibhav Mohanty (@mohantymusic)

Vaibhav has earned national recognition for his large wind ensemble and chamber works, which have been published by esteemed entities such as JPM Music Publications (Missouri), Lighthouse Music Publications (Ontario, Canada), Radnofsky-Couper Editions (Massachusetts), and C.L. Barnhouse Publications (Iowa). His compositions are widely distributed and regularly performed in the United States and various parts of the world. The scholar is also an active jazz pianist.

A brilliant student, who has often been the youngest one in his class, Vaibhav started working on gaining his footing both in the music world as well as the scientific world quite early in life. But ask him how such an accomplished musician turned to chemistry and medicine, and he quips, "Music and science happened in parallel for me. One of the main reasons why I was motivated to pursue a career in medicine is because of my own experience of being hospitalised, when I was nine. It was a short hospitalisation, however, I still clearly remember how amazed I was by all the technology present around me, especially the scanners. But what really convinced me was a high school thesis project, for which I was trying to understand when should a pregnant woman take ibuprofen or any other types of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, and how can it negatively affect the embryo," shares the scholar.

[caption id="attachment_35437" align="aligncenter" width="553"] Vaibhav presenting the study he did for his senior thesis[/caption]

Speaking about his project further, Vaibhav adds, "So, I was doing very basic research using the chicken embryos, which were fresh out of the egg. I learnt that we can use different animal model systems to try and understand how this might have a negative impact on humans. That made me realise that I would like to contribute to this field and help people recover from illness or advise them through challenging times in their lives."

For a noble cause

After graduating from high school, Vaibhav joined Harvard University to pursue a bachelor's degree in chemistry and physics, with a minor in music. "While at Harvard, I was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honour society as part of Harvard's Junior 24 and received a 2018 Barry Goldwater Scholarship for his physics research. As an undergraduate and master’s student, my published research papers spanned several interdisciplinary topics across the sciences and even music, including diffusion MRI physics, time-dependent quantum mechanics of graphene, and mathematical and geometrical models of voice leading in music theory," shares the scholar.

In 2019, the youngster received the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, which allowed him to pursue a PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Oxford’s Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics. "I must mention that it was one of the best experiences thus far. I got to work with the Condensed Matter Theory group with Professor Ard Louis to use statistical physics and spin glass theory to investigate fundamental properties of biological evolution," expresses the scholar, who earned his first Ph.D. (DPhil) in 2022, having submitted his dissertation titled “Robustness of Evolutionary and Glassy Systems” in under two years, at the age of 22.

So what next? "Right now I am quite busy with my research and hospital schedule at Harvard. I aspire to develop novel therapeutic approaches to combat diseases subject to evolution on fast timescales and to treat patients with such diseases. But, I want to continue my musical journey as well. I plan to perform around the US and other parts of the world," the scholar says.

Follow Vaibhav Mohanty on Instagram, Twitter, SoundCloud, and his website

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

(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." [caption id="attachment_8763" align="aligncenter" width="530"] Avani Prashanth with her winning trophy at All India Ladies Amateur Championship[/caption] 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

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.

[caption id="attachment_8782" align="aligncenter" width="848"] Avani Prashanth[/caption]

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."

[caption id="attachment_8783" align="aligncenter" width="440"] Avani Prashanth is an amateur golfer.[/caption]

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.

Follow Avani Prashanth on Instagram

Reading Time: 6 min

Olympic Dreams: Tennis champ Shrivalli wants to bring home the gold

(December 22, 2022) Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, who was crowned the national hardcourt tennis champion (women’s singles) 2021, was 11 when she first held a tennis racket in her hand. Calling herself an “accidental” tennis player, Shrivalli was introduced to the game at the Lal Bahadur stadium in Hyderabad. “I was just 11 years old and frankly, I only noticed the clothes of the kids who were playing at the stadium,” laughs the 20-year-old tennis star during an interview with Global Indian. “I told my father that I wanted to play because I also wanted to wear those clothes,” she adds. [caption id="attachment_25691" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Shrivalli Rashmikaa Bhamidipaty, tennis player[/caption] However, Shrivalli has come a long way since then. The right-handed tennis star, recently recorded twin victories as she entered the singles quarterfinals and doubles semi-finals of the Balaji Amines Solapur Open Women’s ITF $25K Tennis Tournament held in Solapur. The player is currently doing her degree at St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, has also won numerous titles, including ITF Women’s (doubles) $15000 – 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women’s (singles) $15000 – 2022, Ahmedabad. Making of a champion Born to two sports

ee at St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, has also won numerous titles, including ITF Women’s (doubles) $15000 – 2022 held in Gurugram. She was also a semi-finalist at the ITF Women’s (singles) $15000 – 2022, Ahmedabad.

Making of a champion

Born to two sports players – her father being a cricketer and mother a national-level basketball player – Shrivalli was always encouraged to play sports. “I was a very active child, mostly because my parents were into outdoor activities. My father, especially, is a sports freak. He encouraged me to pick up an extra-curricular activity in school,” shares the tennis star, who is also a trained Carnatic singer.

While she took part in various sports, including swimming and roller skating, tennis was her ‘one true love’. And once she started training, it did not take the coaches at the LB stadium much time to realise that Shrivalli was a gifted player.

“For the first year, I went to the stadium to just have fun. I was the most talkative kid in the stadium, who loved picking up balls more than hitting them,” she laughs, adding, “But one day when my father had come to pick me up, one of the coaches asked him if I would like to take up the sport professionally. After coming home, my father posed the same question. In fact, I remember he warned me that it would be a tough journey. I was about 12 years old and didn’t really understand what was so tough about playing tennis. So, I just said yes,” the tennis player recalls.

Even as she worked hard to win every tournament, she did not forget to enjoy her childhood. Although she was a good student, she was also a trouble-maker in class. “I was a notorious student. A few friends and I would bunk classes together. We would never leave the school premises, but we just would not attend the classes some times. Since I was very talkative, the teachers would sometimes even kick me out of the class. But I was a good student, my grades were really good. And I’d win gold in almost every tournament, so my teachers and principal were happy with me,” smiles the tennis champ.

When the going gets tough

During her initial years, the tennis player won several medals, including the national title 2014-15, and under-18 petit camp open doubles in Mauritius in 2016. However, like every player she had to face some tough losses as well. While she recognised her potential as a player, Shrivalli learnt a lot from the matches she couldn’t win.

[caption id="attachment_25692" align="aligncenter" width="649"] Shrivalli with her parents[/caption]

“I knew right from the beginning that I was able to do something extraordinary, something not everyone could do. As a junior, I wasn’t much of a performing kid. So, I would constantly put pressure on myself to perform well. And when I didn’t, the losses hit me very hard. Also, the other tennis players my age were performing really well, and I would inadvertently compare myself with them. In almost every tournament, even before the draw was out, I would freak out,” shares the young player.

For two years, Shrivalli constantly struggled with self-doubt which affected her game. Explaining how important it is to be mentally strong to win the games, the tennis player adds, “I did go to a psychologist subsequently and that helped me a lot. I started concentrating on my game more than the outcomes. So, as I moved towards my under-18s, my game improved a lot.” Her parents, Shrivalli says, were very supportive through her journey, and never once put pressure on her.

Olympic dreams

One of her biggest victories was defeating Rutuja Bhosale at the ITF $25K Pune R1 – 2021. That instilled a great deal of confidence in her. “I think all players feel nervous before a match. I do too. But I am confident now that I can play against, and defeat, any player,” remarks Shrivalli, who is very inspired by Novak Djokovic.

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

Shrivalli dreams of representing India at the Olympics and works at her aspirations without compromise. Her day begins at 4.15 am and training continues for between five and six hours a day. And along the way, she hopes to win as many cups as she can for her country. “I will be participating in several upcoming national and international tournament. But a dream come true will be representing India at the Olympics and winning gold for the country,” says the tennis star, who loves cooking or baking in her free time.

Reading Time: 6 mins