‘Want to follow in Sania’s footsteps’

The year is turning out to be a memorable one for Haryana girl Himani Mor. The teenager was selected to play at the world junior tennis finals at Prostejov, the Czech Republic, before going on to represent Asia on the European circuit tournaments this month. The 14-year-old said “continuous exposure” on the international circuit had boosted her confidence and made her technically more sound. Sharing her experience of the junior Worlds, where India finished fifth among 16 teams, she said, “Interacting with players from different countries was really informative. But the most memorable part of the tournament was when our match against Australia was telecast live. It was thrilling. With international exposure, I am becoming more focused and technically sound.” On the European circuit, she played tournaments in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, from July 5 to August 3. “Initially I experienced some discomfort (in Europe) because I am a vegetarian. I found it hard to get balanced food there. I took little more milk, bread, green vegetables etc. to complete my food cycle. “Now, I am used to it. Also, I can now adjust better to the climate conditions. The players were very friendly there,” she said. Mor won all her ties in the selection play-offs for the Asia team in the Philippines (March 2013) and was adjudged the best player of the tournament. It was due to her sterling show that she was shortlisted for the European circuit. Her performances are all the more creditable as there were no tennis courts in her village, Larsauli, in district Sonepat, Haryana, when she started playing the game at age six. So far, Mor has won 36 medals in various national and international competitions. Mor dreams of making it big like her odol, Sania Mirza. “Certainly Sania is my role model. I am very impressed by the way she is contributing and encouraging the younger ones. I want to follow in her footsteps.” However, Mor rues the lack of sponsors or support to take care of her tennis expenses. Her parents and other family members manage all her tours and expenses, but it hasn’t been easy. “I have not got any financial assistance from anywhere so far, even including the Haryana government,” she said. The Haryana lass will next feature in the ITF Grade-4 tournament in September and the Fenesta National in Delhi in October.