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00:53Japan was great. It was my seventh Asian Games, which was very special for me to still be playing for
01:00India and still being able to contribute to the team and bring medals.
01:04Of course, I would love to thank the Honourable CM, Honourable Sports Minister and STAT for all the support that's
01:11been given to us.
01:13Even being here, felicitating us, acknowledging and appreciating our efforts is such a big moment for us.
01:21And I would just like to say thank you very much.
01:24How can this elite team help you in doing games?
01:29Well, it's so important for all of us because, you know, for me personally, like I play on the professional
01:34tour.
01:34I have to play about 10, 12 tournaments a year.
01:37I also train abroad very often.
01:39So to be a part of the elite team was a huge boost for me.
01:42I was able to go anywhere to train abroad.
01:45I went to the U.S. actually before the Asian Games.
01:48And of course, it's not cheap.
01:50It's very expensive to go there for three weeks, work with the best coaches.
01:54So just having the financial support from STAT brought a lot of peace and relief.
01:59And I could just focus on my training and my game and, you know, come in and play, give my
02:03best for my country.
02:06Well, firstly, I think it's great that squash is in the Olympics.
02:09It's still two years away.
02:10So right now, it's all about making sure my body is fit and healthy.
02:14And I only take it like one month at a time.
02:16I play tournaments almost every five weeks.
02:20So I will take a call a little later.
02:27Japan was very good.
02:28Two long weeks in Japan and two events back to back.
02:32So it was a bit exhausting.
02:34But, you know, it was amazing two weeks.
02:37So how the game was?
02:40How did the elite scheme help you in this game?
02:45Of course, the elite scheme has been helping me a lot in terms of traveling abroad for training or, like,
02:50you know, in terms of whatever equipments I need.
02:54And, you know, like, anything I need for training to compete at the highest level, they've been supporting me.
02:58And being part of elite is, I'm just, like, really grateful for it.
03:02The next course of action and plan?
03:04Of course, like, we do have, I do have a lot of tournaments coming up back to back.
03:09But the next big goal would be the Olympics in LA 28.
03:15How did you choose on your victory?
03:17How was Japan's first Asian game on the whole?
03:20First of all, thank you.
03:21It's my first Asian Games.
03:23And coming back home with a bronze medal, I'm really happy with that.
03:28So, you know, traveling with my team, Joshna playing her seventh Asian Games and Anand Singh, she's just 18 years
03:35old.
03:35And I think as a team, we just really bonded well together.
03:39And that's how it helped us, you know, to win a bronze for India.
03:43How did LA's team help you in training and how far you've been making you strong in the place?
03:50I feel SDAT and the state government have been, you know, helping us very much in whichever sport we're doing.
03:58And I'm under the MIMS game.
03:59So, any tournament we play, I think they're there for us supporting.
04:03And even before we left for the Asian Games, our sports minister, Mr. Adhavarjuna, sir, had, you know, gave us
04:10high cash incentives to train or to help us in whatever we need.
04:14So, I think that's what led to us to, you know, win a bronze for India and our state.
04:19So, your family have also been into sports?
04:21What?
04:23My dad, he's in a hockey Olympian.
04:27He played two Asian Games and he's won two medals, one gold and one silver.
04:31So, his aim was for me to be there at the Asian Games and hopefully winning a medal for our
04:38country.
04:38And I think I have done that and that's what my family's dream was.
04:42So, they all are really happy and I feel like they're just proud of me winning some medals for our
04:48country.
04:48So, now squash has been added in the Olympics or Olympic Games?
04:52Yeah, squash has been added into the Olympics.
04:54So, I think I've just stepped up to, you know, win a medal at the Asian Games.
04:58So, my next aim is to, you know, train hard and, yeah, hopefully aim to the Olympics.
