Even with a good number of athletes in India, Netball as a sport has not taken off the way it has in many countries. The sport faces many challenges in the country, the biggest being the lack of support from the government.
India has seen great improvement in the lesser-followed sports and is beginning to take the leap to the next level. But there aren't many takers for netball in this country as a very small section is acquainted with the game.
Ideally, a country is supposed to reward the performance and representation in a sport, but that is not the case for netball.
Prachi Tehlan got India its first medal in this sport. However, she was forced to retired at the age of 23 as netball is not a viable career option in our country.
She was the captain of the Indian Netball Team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Under her captaincy, India won a silver medal at the 2011 South Asian Beach Games in Sri Lanka.
Youngest captain of Indian Netball
Speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda, Prachi says, “ I started playing basketball when I was in school. In 2002, I played nationals for the first time when I represented Delhi. I kept on playing until I was asked to try netball because of my sharp shooting skills and height.”
She was asked to lead the team for the first time in the 7th Youth Asian Championship back in 2010.
She says, "I eventually learned the game and represented India in netball from 2008-2011. The team that used to play before was not that good. The coach gave me the opportunity to lead the time because of my leadership skills.”
India finished fourth in that tournament in New Delhi and Prachi became the youngest captain. Later that year, she led the team in the Commonwealth Games and in 2011 India won its first medal at the South Asian Beach Games in Sri Lanka.
However, she was forced to retire at the age of 23, despite bringing laurels to India at major sporting events.
Open Letter to Narendra Modi
Prachi penned down an open letter to PM Narendra Modi and requested him to have a structure in place for the upcoming generation. Here are a few excerpts from her letter:
“In February 2010, we went to Australia for a training camp of 20 days. I was badly injured and had a week more to stay in Sydney. The Indian team didn’t even have sufficient budgets to arrange a wheelchair or even to get better treatment for me. I had to be on the crutches for a week. This made my injury more worse and it took me 2 months to get back to action.”
She narrated another incident which took place during the 6th Asian Youth Netball Championship in Hongkong.
'The girls were training hard to compete in the championship but till the day of departure, we were in a dilemma that whether or not we will go to play or not because the money was not sanctioned by the federation for the tickets and accommodation there. This was very disheartening for the team.”
Not just that, but three girls stayed in a room of 7X9 in size and had food which was packed from a Gurudwara in Hongkong.
“These are the issues the government must pay heed to for the betterment of lesser-followed sports in India,” says Prachi. There has not been a positive response from his end but she has received a lot of appreciation from people for bringing it up.
Second Phase - Corporate Job at Accenture
She completed her education in management and was looking for a corporate job.
She says, “I interned at Deloitte, Phillips, and then went on to work at Accenture for three years. So, life always threw me a lot of opportunities.”
“I did not see anything happening when I was playing. There was nothing more I could have done.”
It would not be totally out of place to say Indian netball is even worse than Indian boxing. Like boxing, administrative messes is the reason behind the current shambolic state of netball affairs in our country.
She says, “The government should focus on the players as they are assets of this country. I am not sure how long it will take but there will be thousands of kids if we present this sport in a good way.”
“The people running the federation are spoiling the sport. The government should understand the needs of a player who is playing on the ground.”
Third Phase - Acting
One fine day, a director approached Prachi and told her that he is looking for a lead role in his serial. She could see a bleak future for herself in terms of growing as a professional player to earn my living. So, she decided to take up the challenge.
“Right from Accenture, I was here. I never thought I will be acting. It was like nurturing a hidden talent,” says Prachi.
She adds, “I can relate Arzoo’s character in Diya Aur Baati Hum with my personal life.”
With no government interference, sports like netball will never be able to take off in a country like India.
Isn't our country supposed to give its due recognition to the athletes who’ve brought pride and glory to the nation?
“I am sad that I never got the kind of attention when I represented India which I am getting now. Sports have that feeling of patriotism and I miss that.”
Teammates are teachers and have kids
Her teammates are now Physical Education teachers in school. Most of them are married and have kids.
She adds, “I feel very sorry about the entire system which doesn't give a platform to the talented people of the country. Like these, talent on a daily basis fades away because of negligence.”
All we need is a club culture or to start a league. It is not that difficult as people assume in the land of cricket.
While there are gems like Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, and Sania Mirza in our country, we wonder how many more women are waiting for opportunities to display their talent to the world.
