Ace shot: Powerful backhand helps Varunya surge ahead

passion

What can two months of summer holidays do to you? If you ask city-based tennis player Varunya Chandrashekar, she’d say it could change your life.

Bugged incessantly by her sister Nanditha Chandrashekar, who was a playing tennis on a regular basis, Varunya gave the sport a try during the summer holidays of 2007. Her first couple of months passed at the Mysore Tennis Club. However, the turning point came in October 2007, when she joined Raghuveer Tennis Club and started practising under the guidance of professional coach N P Raghuveer.

Complimenting her coach for bringing out the talent in her, Varunya said that it was then that she started practising seriously. Her daily schedule begins at 5.45 am with the fitness drill until 7 am, under the guidance of fitness trainer Anil. Later, the young lass practices on the clay court at RTC until 9.30 am.

The gruelling schedule however begins at 2 pm at Mysore Tennis Club, where she practices on the synthetic court  until 6 pm under the watchful eyes of coach Gokul Manjunath.

Supporting her sporting achievements is her school - JSS Public School, J P Nagar, which has been felicitating her for the victories that she has garnered in various tournaments.

The 16-year-old Varunya has won 12 tournaments out of which three are Championship Series and nine of them are Talent Series.

Her victories include emerging victorious at the Under-18 Talent Series conducted by De Paul International School, Belagola, 2011. She has also won the Under-16 Talent Series conducted by Bangalore Tennis Academy in Bangalore, 2010.

Thanking her coaches for their support, Varunya says that constant support from her parents - Chandrashekar M and Anitha Chandrashekar - has helped her emerge victorious in various championships.

Varunya emerged as the runner-up in both the Under-16 and Under-18 categories of the ‘Andolana Cup’ - All India National Ranking Talent Series and State Ranking Tennis Tournament, held here in Mysore during the last week.

Having had a successful run throughout the series, she had to suffer heartbreak in the finals due to an injury.

Asked about her favourite player in the international tennis circuit, she is quick to point out that it is Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters.

Varunya is aiming to clinch the National’s to be held in Chennai, which will be followed by the ITF Juniors.

Achievements

* Winner in the Under-16 Doubles Championship Series Jusco Cup conducted by Inner Wheel Club at Nagraj Tennis Club.
* Runner-up in Under-18 Championship Series Doubles conducted by Century Club Bangalore.
* Runner-up in Under-16 Talent Series at Raghuveer Sports Club, Mysore.
* Runner-up in Under-16 Doubles Talent Series held in Bangalore Tennis Academy.
* Runner-up in both 16 and 18 talent series conducted by Inner Wheel Club at Mysore Tennis Club.