Hubballi: Physio Oz-bound to play basketball

HUBBALLI: Dr Shantala Yogi from Hubballi is in the Indian women’s basketball team under the Khelo Masters Foundation to participate in the Pan-Pacific Masters Games Foundation in the Gold Coast in Australia.
Currently, she runs the physiotherapy and sports science centre in Hubballi and is a consultant physiotherapist at B7 Sports Academy in Bengaluru.
Due to lack of basketball teams, Shantala moved to play badminton and went on to represent her college and the university in national-level tournaments, winning a few.
She represented India at the World Senior Badminton Championships in Spain in November 2021, where she participated in the 40+ category in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, reaching the pre-quarterfinals.
Dr. Shantala Yogi said: “We are 15 women from around south India — Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh — participating.”
“Our team comprises players who have been national and international players of their time. The event has been very well organised. And we are playing for the first time in an indoor court, unlike back at home where we play outdoors. The infrastructure for sports is something we would like to see back home, especially in Hubballi,” she added.
“The players here are far better built and stronger and much taller than any of us. So we are proud to be able to give them a tough fight with each one of us having some injury or the other. We have been playing league matches and have reached the semi-finals in the 40+ category and have to play for the 4-5th place in the 30+ category which will be played on November 11,” she said.