I love to attack: Samiya
October 10, 2017
Reference: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/i-love-to-attack-samiya/article19831567.ece
She has the privilege of picking the brains of the biggest names of Indian badminton — Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu — at the Gopi Chand Academy as she trains on the adjacent courts.
Not surprisingly, Samiya Imad Farooqui’s confidence is on a high after her golden performance in the ABC junior championship in Myanmar.
“This being my first international gold, I am delighted. This should help me in realising bigger dreams,” said Samiya, a ninth-standard student, in a chat with The Hindu . “Honestly, I never thought of the gold but, as always, tried to give my best. I am happy that I could raise my game under pressure quite a few times as I was more patient than before.
“I love to attack and my strong point is the half-smash. I still have a long way to go, but I am more confident now,” said Samiya, who won a doubles bronze with Gayathri Gopi Chand in the last ABC juniors.
Catching the eye
Samiya joined the Gopi Academy in 2010 on the advice of her father Mohd. Imaduddin — who, interestingly, played with Gopi in the inter-university championship — who wanted her to keep fit. The girl impressed Gopi so much in just a couple of months that the coach felt she should pursue the sport. “We were all pleased with the hand-eye coordination she showed at a very early age. The best part is she really works hard and has the desire to keep improving,” said Nagam Anil Kumar, a coach at the academy.
Incidentally, Ashi Rawath (girls’ u-15), M. Keyura and Kavipriya Selvam (girls’ u-17), and Ayush Raj Gupta and Shubham Patel (boys’ u-15) also won a bronze in Myanmar.
