In interview with national Kho Kho player, who not only proved that hard work will turn the wind in your favor but also fought a tough battel to keep up her studies. Despite not having an athletic body still she believed in herself. With proper training she did it to prove herself , to her village and most importantly her school management that she can do it and she did it he best.
- Please tell us about yourself, from where you are and from what are you started playing KHO KHO.
Hi, I am Deepali Gaikwad Kho Kho player from Pune, Maharashtra. I started playing Kho Kho from young age of 11.
- Currently what are you doing, position you are holding to help Kho Kho players?
I am currently work as a physical education teacher in college. And I find it giving me immense pleasure to give training every day to Under 15 girls and boys Kho Kho team.
One sports person whom you admire the most and what are their game tactics you like the most.
The one sports person whom I admire the most and I am very thankful to him for investing so much in me. My Coach Santosh Wable is the person who believed in me so much. In spite knowing that my body is not athletic he trained me well enough. He is a great Kho Kho all-round player and knows what works the best on field. But he constantly motivated me to work hard and cause of his support and motivation.
I played my first District Kho Kho match at the age of 13. My performance at district was exceptionally good. The committee selected me in Senior National State Kho Kho championship. There I played a great game and shown my top performance. After that I got selected for Senior National for team Maharashtra at the age of 13. It was an amazing feeling as at that time I was studying in class 8.
In beginning for your Kho Kho career what problems you faced?
I am very thankful to my parents. They are educated and they allowed me to play when I showed interested in Kho Kho game at very young age. The problems which I was facing were not from the game but society. Teachers were taunting all the time and making fun. Even in my village, villagers would gossip about the team. At one instance I was so low. In these days I was chosen to go for district state selection trails for U17. But due to school mismanagement and politics I couldn’t go for the trail that day. The school management even went further and filed me in my class 10th boards.
The same year I played for State Championship and I got 15 extra marks of state. And after three days I was awarded with result-pass. Thankfully, I got admission in good college. I somehow managed to keep balance between sports and Study.
- What are the championships you played and won?
I played for Kho Kho team India in 46th Senior National Championship in Bansberiya, Huglee, Kolkata. This was my first national tournament which I played at the same age of 13 and we won gold medal after 10 years. This was really a proud moment for me.
How you used to prepare before the match?
My formula is to do hard work on the ground and you will automatically give the best in the match. And practice every day without any excuse.
- What are the exercises which helps Deepali Gaikwad Kho Kho player to gain endurance and stamina?
Kho Kho is a totally agility speed cardio vascular game. Everyone should do agility drills, speed drills and do cardio vascular endurance exercises and it will pull out best result from you in the game.
- Any suggestions for new players.
Practice every day; focus on diet, water intake and your health. Focus on the match and you will get good result.
KEEP IT UP TAI 😍🤘🏻😍