There are no glass walls, no polished wooden floors, no echoes of a cheering crowd, only a worn-out room in Kalamb where the walls are chipped and the roof leaks when it rains. On this broken court, Vasundhara Nangare learned to chase a ball, adjust her footing, and imagine a world far bigger than her surroundings. At 14, that imagination has already carried her into India's junior national squash squad, turning a story of scarcity into one of startling promise.
However, her story is not merely about sporting success. It is about perseverance in a place where squash barely exists, where opportunities are scarce, and where most children grow up without ever seeing a proper squash court.
An Accident That Gained Sporting Wings
Squash entered Vasundhara's life almost by accident. Her elder
sister had first taken up the sport through a local initiative. While her sister eventually moved on, Vasundhara remained fascinated by the speed and intensity of the game. She picked up a racquet in 2022, initially treating squash as a fun activity and a way to stay fit.
But one tournament changed everything. Competing in Pune, she not only won her category but also got her first glimpse of elite junior players. Watching older competitors execute precise shots and control rallies convinced her that squash could become more than a hobby; it could become a career.
Starting Without A 'Coach'
The biggest challenge was access. Kalamb had no proper squash ecosystem-no qualified coach, no professional courts, and limited exposure to competitive play.
So Vasundhara turned to YouTube. She spent hours studying international players, learning footwork, shot selection, and movement patterns. Back on her damaged court, she replicated those lessons with relentless practice.
Her growth in this phase was built on self-discipline and curiosity rather than structured coaching, an unusual path in a sport that demands technical precision.
Vasundhara Support System
Vasundhara credited her rise to her family that chose belief over limitations. Her father, a schoolteacher, backed her ambitions despite financial constraints. Travelling to tournaments in cities like Mumbai and Pune required time, money and sacrifice, but the family stayed committed.
A turning point came when coach Abhinav Sinha recognised her potential. He began mentoring her and arranged training stints in Mumbai, where she finally gained access to professional courts, structured sessions and competitive sparring.
"That exposure changed everything," she has acknowledged, crediting those sessions for accelerating her progress.
Breaking Through The System
With better training and growing confidence, Vasundhara began making her mark at the state and national level. She competed against stronger opponents, improved her tactical understanding and steadily climbed the ranks.
Her breakthrough moment came at the Under-15 Asian Junior Trials, where she secured a third-place finish to earn a spot in the national squad. For a player coming from a non-traditional squash hub, the achievement stood out.
What sets Vasundhara apart is her mental approach. Years of training in sub-optimal conditions have built resilience and composure, qualities essential in squash, where long rallies test both body and mind.
She focuses not just on physical fitness but also on staying calm during matches, visualising key moments and backing her instincts. This mental toughness has helped her compete against players with far better facilities and exposure.
What Next For Vasundhara?
Despite her rapid rise, Vasundhara remains grounded. Her ambitions are clear: represent India at the senior level and win medals on the international stage.
With upcoming international tournaments, her focus is now on refining movement, improving reaction time, and adapting to the pace of global competition.
Back in Kalamb, her journey is already inspiring change. Young children now gather around the same imperfect court, seeing in her story a possibility they hadn't imagined before.
In many ways, Vasundhara Nangare's greatest impact may go beyond medals. She is proving that talent can emerge from anywhere, and that even a broken court can be the foundation of extraordinary dreams.
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