Study hard, play harder: Young Nagpur cagers clear HSC with flying colours

NAGPUR: There is something about basketball players in the city. Whether it is the confidence with which they set basketball courts across the country on fire or the ease with which they have balanced sports and studies to achieve super success. Many find it difficult to do the balancing act between sports and studies but city hoopsters are different.They belong to that special breed that is blessed with the ability to not only handle both perfectly but also emerge on top in each of them.
Defying the notion that education and sports don't go hand in hand, many national and state level champions alongside an international hoopster, cleared the HSC examination with flying colours that too without the additional 25 grace marks. Top players of the district champion girls' and boys' basketball teams from Shivaji Science and Ambedkar College left their mark in studies too.
Much like her top notch success in the SSC examination in 2013, one of city's finest shooting guards Navpreet Khurana once again led the chart of basketball players in the class XII examination, results of which were declared on Wednesday, when she secured 95.23%.
Having earned 94% in her SSC examination in 2013, Navpreet, the then state-level hoopster, not only bettered her performance in the HSC examination by 1.23% but also became a national level cager in 2013. She represented Maharashtra in the Mahila national championship. Serious about her basketball practice, Navpreet was seen playing at the Surendra Nagar-based Nagpur Amateur Sports Association on Wednesday evening before partying with family in night.
Navpreet gave the credit of her success to sports. "Playing basketball gave me a refreshing break and I would like to give the credit of success to sports. A two-hour practice session helped me in improving my stamina which in turn helped me concentrate better in studies," she said.
While Navpreet emerged the top scorer amongst her Shivaji Science College teammates, her district U-19 champion team with fellow members Mugdha Amraotkar, Anushree Kaloti, Mayuri Joshi, Harshada Pande, Shefali Mangrodiya, Ashwini Mudke and Rohini Kadoo too cleared the class XII examination with distinction.
City's second international hoopster Mugdha Amraotkar is among the talented sportspersons from the city who have struck a fine balance between sports and education, a reflection of which is seen in her board examinations this year. Much before the first ray of sun kisses the earth, Mugdha sets out from her Dhantoli residence for basketball practice at Dharampeth Krida Mandal courts in Shankar Nagar. A daily 6-7 hour workout helped Mugdha earn the prestigious India cap.
Having represented India in the U-16 Fiba Asia Championship at Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2013 and played for Maharashtra in the senior and junior nationals last year, Mugdha secured 74.62%. "I never had any problems in balancing sports and studies. I think it's all about time management. To be honest, basketball has helped a lot in my studies," said Mugdha.
Both Navpreet and Mugdha along with their team mates, Anushree (80%), Mayuri (78%), Ashwini (80%), Shefali (72%), Harshada (62%) and Rohini (66%) not only gave Shivaji Science the district basketball crown for two consecutive years but also played many state level and inter-club events during their crucial academic year.
In the boys section too, two of the best Ambedkar College hoopsters Priyam Chandak (81%) and Harish Panchpande (86%) helped their college team emerge the district champion before playing in their first U-19 national championship at New Delhi last year.