Paarvi Patil is ranked number 5 in the state and number 45 in the country. But if her talent and determination are any indication, she should rise higher on both the lists, in a short span of time.
For, Paarvi is just 10 years of age and the ‘catch them young’ slogan fits her to a ‘T’. The Winning Edge Tennis Academy, which functions at Veterinary Campus, Hebbal, has been the place where she has been honing her skills under coach Ravi Gopal. She was very rightly introduced to the sport at the age of six and her interest and involvement has only increased with every session and tournament.
This Florence Public School, R T Nagar, student is surely on the right track. She has already proven herself not just in her age group but has been a force to be reckoned with even in higher categories.
Her recent victory in the under-12 singles event in Karnataka Tennis Players & Parents Association’s AITA Talent Series Tournament at Mahila Seva Samaj courts provided ample proof of her ability and rising career graph. Paarvi stormed into the singles final after upsetting top seed Pratiksha Sen 7-5, 6-4 and going on to subdue the challenge of Sonashe Bhatnagar.
Paarvi won the under-12 title in Topspin Tennis Academy’s state ranking championship in 2011 and then bagged the under-12 and under-14 titles in Stalwarts Sports Club’s tournament as well.
Paarvi entered True Bounce Tennis Academy’s tournament in April this year and had to be content with the runner-up spot. She repeated that effort in the Indian Oil Cup AITA under-14 event this month.
But she wasn’t going to remain without a title for long and played some effective tennis to bag the under-12 title at the Mahila Seva Samaj courts.
Her parents, dad Shrikanth and mom Sheetal are at their daughter’s beck and call, and intend to leave no stone unturned in providing every facility they can for their daughter’s progress in her tennis career.
The right-handed Paarvi packs a lot of punch in her forehand and can move about swiftly on the court too. As she grows, her fitness and power are bound to increase too and that will make her a more formidable player.
Paarvi likes watching television and listening to music. Her favourite player is, not surprisingly, Maria Sharapova. Among men, she likes to watch Roger Federer in action.
Paarvi is also good at studies and scores 80 to 85 per cent in school. Her school has been supportive of her during tournaments and need for regular practice. But it is her grandfather who is more than a keen supporter and follower of her progress. The Sanias and Shikhas better watch out.