Tanisha Crasto likely to be selected for India

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

Tanisha Crasto’s wins in tournaments in Nagpur and Hyderabad have improved her chances of being selected to represent India for the Badminton Asia U-15, U-17 Badminton Championship to be held in Mandalya, Myanmar from October 3 to 7. “The last two tournaments she participated were earmarked to select players for the tournament in Myanmar. Tanisha is with an excellent chance of representing the country,” a senior Badminton Association of India (BAI) told The Navhind Times.

Tanisha who resides in the Gulf with her parents is currently ranked 17 in the BAI U-17 ranking. Lydia Barreto from Goa, who is currently training at the Verghese Academy in Nagpur, shares the ranking with Tanisha.

“We do not look at players ranking only while selecting players to represent the country. Specific tournaments are short listed and the ones that Tanisha won the doubles gold (Nagpur and Hyderabad) were the two short listed to pick the India squad for the U-15 and u-17 Badminton Asia Junior Championship,” stated our BAI sources.

Tanisha, if selected, will get an entry into the Gopichand Academy. “I realise the need of moving from the gulf to India. There is much more competition in India and if I need to make it to the top, I have to be practicing with the best talent and that is in India. That is why I intend to come to join the Gopichand Academy next year,” Tanisha told this newspaper over the phone.

“I expect Tanisha to get a call. She has done well for herself and I am positive she will be one of those selected to represent the country. Winning in both the tournaments shortlisted to select players is a great achievement,” said Goa Badminton Association (GBA) president Narahar Thakur.

“I would have been playing better had I been practicing in India. It is always better to practice with better players and the standard of badminton in India is better then what it is in Dubai.”

“It is going to be difficult to adjust to standards in India initially. I will have to give up my habit of eating junk food. But I will get the hang of things once I get into the routine,” Tanisha told the Navhind times when asked what her first priorities would be on returning to India.

“I have been able to develop my physical strength in Dubai and off course the playing conditions are better in Dubai. Badminton in Dubai is played under air condition. It gets sweaty here but this is another aspect I will have to adjust and get used to,” added Tanisha.

“I have not spoken to her parents; will at some time. Tanisha will definitely strengthen our squad,” stated Narahar when asked whether Tanisha would be part of the Goa team during the National Games to be hosted by Goa in 2019.