Rasika Raje in Indian junior badminton team

NAGPUR: Rasika Raje could not have asked for a better start to the new year. The promising 16-year-old city shuttler will soon realize her dream of representing the country in an international tournament.
The talented southpaw will don the national colours in the Second Hungarian International Junior Championships 2012 scheduled to be played at Pecs (Hungary) from March 15-18.The Badminton Association of India (BAI) will be sending a 12-member team (6 girls and 6 boys) to Hungary.
The good news was conveyed to the Raje family by the chief national junior coach Sanjeev Sachadeva who asked Rasika to be ready for it. Rasika, who is participating in the ongoing Tulsiramji Gaikwad-Patil Memorial district open badminton tournament in Nagpur, is obviously overjoyed.
"It is a fantastic news. Although I am thrilled, it is quite a surprise for me. I never expected it so soon. It is an honour for me to represent the country," a jubilant Rasika told TOI on Monday.
A series of impressive performances in the domestic junior circuit helped her clinch a berth in the Indian team. The turning point for her came when she reached three finals in the Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India junior ranking tournament at Chandigarh in October.
National junior coach Sachadeva was highly impressed by Rasika's performance. "She played really well. I can say that her Chandigarh show forced us to include her in the team. She is athletic and she has range of strokes. She has a bright future," said Sachadeva. "To improve further she must develop her speed on the court and body strength. I am sure with these she will be a force to reckon with at the top level," he added.
Sachadeva said the Hungary-bound Indian team would have three-week camp at Lucknow after the Jaipur nationals. Rasika, a Standard XI student of MKH Sancheti Junior College, gave credit to her parents and coaches - Prasad Sadhankar and Robin Simon - and physical trainer Sachin Deshmukh.
She also acknowledged the support of Gracelands' chairman Shekhar Jadhao and city's chartered accountant Amit Bajaj for sponsoring her.
Before going to Hungary, Rasika wants to do well in the forthcoming 36th Junior National Badminton Championships slated to be held at Jaipur from February 4 to 12.
Rasika's performance in 2011
U-17 girls singles title at State junior ranking tourney in Mumbai
Runner-up in U-17 singles, U-19 singles and U-17 doubles at Krishna Khaitan Memorial All India junior ranking tournament at Chandigarh
Runner-up in U-17 girls singles and U-17 doubles at State junior ranking tourney in Mumbai
Member of the triumphant Maharashtra squad in the West Zone Badminton in Bhopal.