The Story of former Indian womens basketball team captain Divya Singh directly from herself
She comes from a family of basketball players, three of her sisters currently are a member of the Indian women national basketball team
- Sister Priyanka Singh (NIS Basketball Coach) wife of Manish Kumar (also an NIS Basketball Coach)
- Sister Prashanti Singh (Currently member of India women national basketball team)
- Sister Akanksha Singh (Currently member of India women national basketball team)
- Sister Pratima Singh (Currently Captain Junior India women national basketball team)
We live our dreams, no matter how hard the reality is..
Early in the morning at 5.00am, she gets up and try to kit up to go to practice, everyone else is sleeping at home, she tries to find her sneakers but she is not able to find them because all the lights are shut and she is still struggling to see without any light. Some how, she finds the sneakers and slowly walks out of the door to ware them without making any noise. Somewhere in her heart she is scared if she wakes some one up. Now when she started wearing her shoes, she could hear some one is walking out of the door, she drops the shoes and started pretending that she has come out to see news paper. It is her father who came out to see if the news paper has come or not. He is shocked to know that her daughter is awake so early. He asked; “how come you woke up so early in the morning? Go and study!
In the shadows
The poor kid goes back and sleeps because if she still goes to practice she is going to get scolding early in the morning. She gets up again at 9am to get ready for the school.
She had to sit home for two month to study for exams no matter if she still wants to go and play. The neighbors ask them how much they got in English, Math or science; they never ask them how many baskets they have scored in a game. However, she managed to play basketball but the mental and emotional harassments she has faced in very early age can be never paid back.
When she started following the footsteps of her elder sister, she never knew that she is going to reach the maximum level of success in Indian basketball. Her mom was criticized because her girl child was playing but the proud mom of five girls never gave up and she helped her children’s to achieve their dreams.
This is the story of a former Captain of Indian basketball women team and one of the members of the Unknown Basketball Family of India, The family, which has produced four national players. They all played for Indian national basketball team and now stand amongst the best Basketball players India has produced till now
They are still UNKNOWN CAGERS. Only few in the country of billion recognize them by face and few by name. They don’t have fans to call their name if they are out of their basketball circle.
The only motivation for them at that point of time was their mom but the story remains the same for many kids like them who want to play but their parents, Gender, Culture also society doesn’t allow them to explore in the field they want to explore. I wonder after having many problems at early age what motivates them so much that they still want to play the game which is not recognize in India. Millions of unknowns are still struggling to become something in the game they love.
They say there is no future in this game, no money, and few job opportunities. Well, if we think logically the answers is yes! These are some problems but still people play, coaches’ struggle and national tournaments are conducted without having any support. People don’t come to see basketball games; they don’t praise the hard work basketball players have done to reach there. We have basketball court in almost every school and college but impact on people is negligible. We still offer money to show our national championship on television.
Who is answerable? Society, parents, children or our nation! Whatever the question is the passion of the basketball gives strength to children to still try to prove everyone wrong and play the game they love. Only few are lucky enough to get support from parents to chase their dreams through Basketball. However, they are very few but they are living their dreams to see positive change in future.
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Author: divya – Hardcore Keeda
Has written 6 Articles, posted 48 Comments, 1 Post, has 7 Fans and was thanked 11 Times
wow!! The Site would go miles…
Awesome Divya,
Hatts off…….. to U as well as to ur mother..
wowwwww its amazing story……Sportskeeda u rock….
I always felt, sports/sports persons other than cricket do not get the required focus, because they have not done a lot of great things.
But a family of 4 sports stars, all of international quality, should have got all the media attention.
I do hope the Indian media wakes up.
PS: SportsKeeda, please continue your encouragement to other sports.
even i m a basketball player and big fan of many players too. but i salute you all for their hard work and being so consistent….. really you all are star of the country.
its really inspiring story..guess India has produced heros in all fields..and these heros have come by practicing in the gullies and their mauhalla..my salute to all of them for their continuous endeavor and strong willpower..
very nice d singh…..you shud try to write a novel and if u need any help in writing i will help u out….all of us will work together…..
well, they are known now! — and rightfully so!
that’s a true and inspiring story and hope it serves an example for those aspiring players facing challenges and mothers supporting them.
often when these stories come up the most common/negative statement is ” not everyone can do it like you”. If that mother out there would have thought this way, these sisters couldn’t have inspired you….
great effort…
hats off to all of u ,,,,especially u divya as u helpd sisters struggle less as u did ………but yes no doubt even they struggld n struggld hard enough……n i promise wen i become a established bollywood hero (actor) i will make a movie on this……….its going to load me wit money for sure ………..so m signing u ….done
Kudos….. Keep going sisters…..
Best wishes from the the only Indian Captain couples…..
way to GO…… let us do the ball rolling….
An article written from the heart by a sportsperson who bleeds at times seeing the talent in the country going waste because of a lot of factors in other games except cricket…
Hats off to all the sisters for their struggle & achieving success…
Couldnt have been a better way to write this than this…
All the best for the future…
like bacchi said ill also help to publish a book….we’ll name it I LOVE THIS GAME….
Divya, I am going to read this story to every basketball player – because it isn’t your story – it is the biography of every single basketball player of our country.
The credit goes to you, that in spite of ALL THIS, you have managed to reach the pinnacle of glory. That you were able to motivate and bring along with you – your sisters too – is a feat, which I don’t think has any parallel.
You are the new icon of Basketball – we all look forward to you to take the country forward.
hi divya,
its nostalgic to see how the efforts of many like you go unnoticed…with my basket ball back ground i just wish i am able to contribute to the game as i had discussed with you.
lets get together and do our best for the game….
you lead rest will follow
Divya,
I recently told this to Porush that Divya would soon be a youth icon for many. You are for me. Seriously. A request is that please keep inspiring budding players to be like you one day.
thanks shivam ,
i appreciate it.. we have long way to go…
i thanks porush for introducing a great sports website….
thanks again…
cheers!
It is really very nice……………………………and you have not only written your story but for all those player who see dream for basketball………………………………and you said very truly “the passion of the basketball gives strength to children to still try to prove everyone wrong and play the game they love. “
Nice to see the good response for Divya’s article.
Kudos to Divya nd Sportskeeda…
HAT’S OFFFFFfffff….. TO THESE GIRLSSSSSSS….
U ROCK N KEEP ROCKING…
hello divya u r the queen of basketball. even i am 176cm tall and use to play basketball in school as no one use to give importance to this game i had to leave it under pressure..bt after knowing about u im really inspired and i want to play basketball for my country.. can u suggest and help me what should i do.
you can contact me on divya4india@gmail.com……i would love to help you if i can….thanks
Hi..
Nice to see so many response for Basketball..
The ball started rolling in India…
hi….Its great to find sportsperson like you in India…Am also a sport freak and fructured my wrist playing Basketball and still i love to play.
thanks guys….vikram..keep balling……:)
nice post… very interesting and reminds me of the days i used to wake up silently at 3 or 4 in the morning to watch nba games on tv.. not as gifted as u in the sport but love to play and watch..
It was really nice to read know and read the story. Keep up the good work. I love the game and I enjoy playing it too.
divya di,there is much much more to achieve..a GOLD is much awaited.u have made INDIA proud but you ought to make urself prouder.
i hope u hav watched “SPIDERMAN1″.i remember a dialogue from the film which says,”WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY”.enjoy the power but do realize the onus incumbent upon ur shoulders.just give it a thought because OUR MOTHERLAND still needs a big leap to to be mapped on the screens of world sports…