‘I cannot afford to skip the practice’
Fifteen-year-old M. Hansini appeared for her English exam on February 15 — and it is a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class X board examination. Her friends should not be surprised if they do not find her plugging away at her books for the next paper. Of course, she will study, but also take a break for something that is equally important to her, even during these times. That is table tennis. When this reporter spoke to her a few days before her exam, Hansini, a resident of Chennai, had returned home after a table tennis practice session at Andhra Club in T. Nagar, and had no plans to give up her regular sports routine during this examination season that stretches on for a month.
“In fact, I took up an additional routine three weeks ago: working out in the gym for over two hours every day which is getting quite intense every passing day,” says Hansini, a Class X student of P.S. Senior Secondary School.
Exams do not come in the way of this promising ping pong player who was recently ranked the youngest National Champion in the under-19 category. Her day starts at 7 a.m where she attends online tuitions in science, followed by a gym workout and ping pong sessions for three hours in the evening.
Among the players selected for the Sai National Camp happening in Bengaluru, Hansini has requested that she be allowed to join in late. “Luckily, this is off-season and I do not have any major tournaments lined up, but I cannot afford to skip my regular practices if I have to compete in the season starting in June,” she says.
Hansini’s parents are grateful for the support from the school. “In Class IX, when my parents were contemplating moving me to the National Institute of Open Schooling, which is more flexible, so that I could devote more time to sports, the school principal assured them that I can cope well and should not leave the school,” recalls Hansini.
For the pre-board examination Hansini could write only two paper as she was travelling on tournaments.
‘It helps to take it easy’
Aghil Anand (left) is a rising player in speed skating
A rising speed skating player Aghil Anand likes to set priorities when it comes to academics and the skating rink. A Class X student of Maharishi Vidya Mandir in Ayanavaram, he will be appearing for his Board examinations from March 25. Aghil has slowed down a bit in hitting the rink but has not given up. “My first priority is giving my best in the examinations and I am cool about it. I cannot take a break due to examinations or my speed will reduce drastically,” says Aghil, who completed the second revision test conducted by his school on February 14. This weekend, his father will be taking him to the practice sessions.
During the examination season, the routine of practising on the roads is restricted to the weekends.
A regular at the Anna Nagar Roller Skating Club, Aghil makes sure he gets a dose of fitness at home practising skipping for 15 to 20 minutes, working on dumbbells and choosing a few weight-lifting exercises.
Aghil’s best outing in 2024 was winning a silver and a bronze at state level tournaments. His father M. Anand says his son is an easygoing boy and happy with the outcomes he has achieved in speed skating so far.
Navigating the 64 squares and a major exam with poise
Sharon Rachel Aby has achieved many feats in chess
It is around 10 p.m. on February 14 and Sharon Rachel Aby has just come out of an online class conducted by her English teacher ahead of her CBSE Board examination the next day. A jovial sounding Sharon is pumped up talking to this reporter on the phone. “Ma’am revised some important topics with us and also prayed for all of us, so it was a good meet-up with the class again,” says Sharon, a student of Spartan Exclusive School in Mogappair.
The 15-year-old with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare degenerative disease, is among the most promising chess players in the differently-abled category, competing and winning honours at various important tournaments including the Asian Chess Championship in Kyrgyzstan.
Despite the limiting factors (Sharon moves with the help of a motorised wheelchair), she is comfortable juggling academics and the demands of the 64 square board.
She ended 2024 on a high with tournaments in Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Jharkhand. These tournaments are physically and mentally challenging, so coming back to be in the company of books is something Sharon enjoys. “Studying is some kind of a de-stresser,” says her father Aby Mathew.
An academically bright student, Sharon topped the pre-boards. Sharon is using a scribe to write her exams. So her practice and preparation included coordination with scribe and preparing accordingly.
“She missed more than three months of school during the fag end of 2024, so she was keen on covering lost ground and we have left it to her,” says Aby, advising parents not to make a fuss about examinations. With a supportive environment at school, Sharon only needed little external help.
“Maths is a little tough for her, so we have a tutor helping her out besides the additional classes she attends at school,” says Aby.
Does chess also need practice every day?
Aby says one will lose touch with the game so the daily practice is a must. When Sharon is tired of studying, she plays chess online. “That is the way to de-stress between studies,” she signs off.
Once the Boards get over, Sharon will be up and ready to compete in another round of tournaments.
Published – February 15, 2025 08:37 pm IST
