‘Straight drive’ Sanjna

a budding squash player from the state has added one more feather in her cap by winning Uttarakhand Open Squash 2011:

P.S. Chauhan

A three-day Uttarakhand open squash tournament for 2011, organised by the state level squash association, was held in the holy city of Haridwar at the Dayanand Stadium, Gurukul Kangri University. The women's single title was won by a class 10th student from DPS Ranipur - Sanjna Verma. She won the trophy when she defeated a 27-year-old army captain from IMA Dehradun in a tough three set match.

The closing ceremony was a splendid affair in which the vice chancellor of Gurukul Kangri University, Swatantra Kumar gave away the trophies and prizes to the winning participants. The boys open trophy was bagged by IMA, Dehradun and the boys inter school trophy by RIMC, Dehradun. The girls inter school trophy was bagged by DPS Ranipur, Haridwar and the girls open state level championship went to Sanjna Verma for the second consecutive year. K.C. Pandey, principal DPS Ranipur and president Uttarakhand squash racquet's association, RKS Dagar; general sectary, Sanjay Verma, Sr. vice president and Rajeev Bhatnagar, Town Administrator (BHEL) were present to cheer the winners.

Daughter of Mona and Sanjay Verma from Haridwar, Sanjna had made her mark in 2010 as a budding player of Uttarakhand as she then beat an IIT 4th year student in the state level squash tournament. An elated Sanjna told Haridwar Plus that she owed her success to her father, who was also a national level squash player. "My father did his best to accommodate my training schedule and my parents reposed their faith in me even when I was slated to play against professionals, at the kingfisher national squash racket championship, 2009," said Sanjana, beaming with joy. Sanjna will now be provided with a scholarship by the district squash racquet's association for further training in the game. She will be representing the state at national level games in 2011.

Apart from being an outstanding student, Sanjna also excels in music, dance and public speaking. She has bagged prizes in all the above at school level. She has also bagged a gold medal each in badminton and table tennis in her school this year.