A girl from Guntur makes her name on the national throwball squad

The 19-year-old female has established herself on the national throwball squad. Chall Kalpana, a Guntur native, recently competed in the Southwest Asian Throwball Championship, which took place in Bahrain in February, and she significantly contributed to her nation’s silver medal victory.

She remarked, “I have been passionate about sports since my childhood,” in an interview with TNIE. In the seventh grade, I started playing throwball seriously. I participated in a State-level competition by the tenth standard, and I haven’t stopped since.

It has always been my desire to represent my nation internationally. When our national song began to play in the background, Kalpana exclaimed, “I felt proud.”

However, in the decisive game, her team was defeated by USA 25–23. Her participation in the National Juniors Throwball Championship in Tamil Nadu and the National Seniors Throwball Championship in Uttar Pradesh opened the way for her to compete internationally. The national team selectors were drawn to Kalpana’s skill even if the Andhra Pradesh squad did not win the competitions.

Her path was not simple; her traditional parents did not at first share her enthusiasm, and it grew more difficult for her to pay for her training and the travel she needed to compete in competitions throughout the country.

“My mother, Sunitha, stays at home while my father, Ch Venkateswar Rao, works as a real estate agent. My parents wanted me to concentrate only on my studies, but I worked very hard to get them to let me play throwball. After a while, they gave in, and I began competing in several competitions at the district and state levels, winning awards. Throwball is a fast-paced game that requires dexterity, quick thinking, and accuracy. The game may seem easy to the spectator, but there are several regulations that dictate how to toss and catch, the player said.

It was difficult to juggle studying and participating in the sport. However, playing the sport also helped me focus better and do well in my schoolwork. Sports teach important life lessons outside of the arena, such self-control, cooperation, and perseverance. It encourages healthy rivalry and camaraderie, which has helped me overcome a number of obstacles in my life,” the woman said.

According to Kalpana, her career was drastically changed by her encounter with her instructor, CH Suneel. As the squad’s captain, Suneel helped the Indian throwball team win several medals and trophies. I was astonished when Suneel sir volunteered to mentor me. He not only gave me free instruction, but he also gave me the necessary diet, gear, and connections to other sports fans.

Kalpana, a final-year student at the city’s Jagarlamudi Kuppuswamy Chowdary (JKC) College studying a BCA, has already found employment to assist her family.