Amaira Gulati: The young golf star from Mhow is all set to play in the US
Written by: Amrita Priya
(December 3, 2022) At seven, Amaira Gulati is a golf star who has already played in 35 tournaments as a professional golfer. She first began playing at the age of four, after watching her parents play in their free time. “I was five when I started playing it professionally,” Amaira told Global Indian.
A grade-two student at Emerald Height International School, Mhow, Amaira registered a remarkable win in the recently held US Kids Tour Event held in Delhi. This win has culminated in her being selected for the US Kids world championship to be held next year in North Carolina, USA.
Amaira Gulati
Early start
When Amaira’s parents Colonel Baljeet Singh and Harpreet Kaur discovered their child had an unusual talent for the sport, they believed that with training from a young age, she could be a good golfer. “I was trained under Gyan Sir and Sharaf Sir. My Golf caddie, Ajay Bhaiya, also teaches me,” Amaira says.
Her father’s frequent job postings, in places like Shahjahanpur, Hissar and now Mhow near Indore, means Amaira’s training regimen is often disturbed. Still, her passion is so unwavering that she manages to keep pace with the game.
The first tournament abroad
The youngster has been a part of and won major under-8 tournaments in north India. She is the leading player of the Indian Golf Union’s north zone ‘E’ category, having won all its nine tournaments this year.
Whether it is the Delhi Golf Cup, Chandigarh Golf Cup, Albatross Golf Event, Shubhankar Sharma Invitational, or Hyundai National School Championship, the youngster has won in all the tournaments that she has played in 2022. However, winning in the US Kids Tour Event is special. The seven-year-old is all set to make her foreign debut and will play abroad for the first time at Pinehurst, also known as the ‘cradle of the American golf’.
Amaira competed with golf players of Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Korea and Japan to find the coveted spot at the event organised by US Kids Golf, the leading brand for junior golf equipment that conducts tournaments across all continents. The season winners of all continents have been invited to play at the annual world championship to be held in USA.
Fruit of hard work
Talking about one of her first tournaments, when she started playing professionally, Amaira recalls, “It was fun but when I didn’t get the trophy, I started crying and asked my father why I didn’t win.” The tournament was in Chandigarh. “My father said, if you want the trophy you will have to work harder. I did so and kept on winning after that,” she remarks.
Practice happens after school and the young golfer rarely misses a session. Nearly 10-days in a month are spent travelling across North India for tournaments and Amaira tries to make the most of this, too, learning as much as she can from the coaches she meets. She follows what she has been taught by the experts in those places, during her routine practice sessions back home.
Amaira Gulati with the prizes she has won so far
Amaira’s parents support her fully, as does her school, which helps her keep abreast of what she misses when she’s on tour. “When I come back from tournaments, my teachers support me in my school work and help me with what I do not understand.”
Going with the flow
In her free time, Amaira loves dancing, singing or swimming. She also adores maths. “I want to become a renowned professional golfer like Aditi Ashok. She is my role model,” says the rising golf star, about the trailblazer of women’s golf in India.
Atharva Desai was eight-years-old when he watched his first Formula 1 race on TV, at his Virginia home. He was enchanted. He ran and pressed his face up against the screen. Today, at 19, the US-born Indian-origin racer is testing for Formula 3 in the UK with Arden Motorsports Team, Banbury. Now the Indian teen racing champ’s sights are set on a Formula 1 seat, and hopefully even a world championship. In early February, Atharva and a small group of drivers headed out to the Young Racing Drivers’ Academy racetrack at the Anglesey Circuit to test Arden Motorsports’ F3 cars – all whetted through a series of simulation rounds. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day - the track lay wet and glistening - hardly ideal for a racer. “I had never spent an entire day driving in the rain,” he recalls, in an exclusive interview with Global Indian. “But I kept it under control. I kept it fast and it went well,” said the Indian teen racing champ. A chance to sign on as an F3 driver and make headway to the coveted Formula 1, Desai is hopeful. [caption id="attachment_11211" align="aligncenter" width="875"] Atharva Desai at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales[/caption]
ance to sign on as an F3 driver and make headway to the coveted Formula 1, Desai is hopeful.
[caption id="attachment_11211" align="aligncenter" width="875"] Atharva Desai at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales[/caption]
A Brit Indian with a need for speed
Atharva entered racing before he hit his teens. A cutthroat world that required emotional stability far beyond his years, just as much as talent and skill, he says, “Attitude and confidence are important. You never know who is watching you. While talent is the first thing scouts look for, the second round involves testing a person’s confidence and approach to life. They want someone who can endorse them, who will bring their team a good name.”
Soon after he watched that first race on TV, his obliging parents took the excited eight-year-old to a go-karting track called the Allsports Grand Prix in Northern Virginia. He failed to meet the height requirements but was back the following year, determined to practice on his own. He was noticed by the track owner, Francois, who remarked to Atharva’s father that the boy “drives like a young Sir Jackie Stewart” and began teaching him the fundamentals of racing.
“I was 10 when I entered my first junior league,” says the Indian teen racing champ. A rookie, going up against opponents far more experienced than himself, he went on to win the championship, levelling up, and emerging victorious the next year too. “There was the last level left to compete at but my teacher stopped me. He thought I would beat everyone. My adult opponents wouldn’t have been happy about that,” he smiles.
After finishing second at the ROTAX National Race, Atharva was invited to test Formula 4 cars. And he impressed all. “I got blazing times. It got me noticed,” says the Indian teen racing champ who, in search of a good school to study engineering, chose Oxford Brookes College in the UK due to its motorsports curriculum.
At the Young Racing Driver Academy in Virginia, he met Jamie Horner, director, an established name, Horner’s brother, Christian, the British team principal for team Redbull Formula 1. “I became a developing driver to improve my skills, and hopefully race for them in the future,” says the 19-year-old. At the academy in Anglesey, drivers were put on simulators, chosen based on skills and timing. Atharva found out soon enough that F4 cars in the UK are quite different from those in the US. “The American cars are digital, less rigid. They’re not meant for aggressive racing. In the UK, they’re built for aggressive drivers – which is what I am,” says the Indian teen racing champ who re-honed his skills, leaving his mentors impressed.
How Nikki Lauda inspired him
Committed and driven, Atharva is up before 6 am, starting with an hour at the gym. Back home, he cooks breakfast, and heads to class. Unwavering discipline, born of mental fortitude, he explains, “I don’t get angry often. Motorsports, especially, the earlier phases are competitive and full of aggression. You’re getting attacked both on and off the track. So, you learn. If someone provokes me, I think, my goal is to be in F1. My goal is not to meddle with the guy.”
Even his choice of idols is unusual – Nikki Lauda, the legendary Austrian Formula One and three-time F1 World Drivers’ Champion, the only driver in history to be champion for both Ferrari and McLaren. In 1976, Lauda’s Ferrari swerved off the track and burst into flames. “He was pulled out of the car with half his face on fire. He didn’t give up, with dedication and mental strength, he made it through. Nothing could stand in his way,” says the Indian teen racing champ.
All about motorsport
Doing engineering in motorsport technology at Oxford, Atharva is uncommonly mature. “I was raised with Indian values. I understand that a little competition can go a long way,” he adds.
This year, he hopes to join a Formula 3 team in the US. “I have built good relationships there, and they are willing to give me an F3 seat,” says the racer whose connection with Arden Motorsports will continue alongside. “Next year, I start negotiating with Formula 2 teams. I also have to work at getting sponsors to back me,” says the Indian teen racing champ.
The chequered flag beckons
Much of his success, the Indian teen racing champ attributes to his unwavering resolve. “Attitude, confidence and general likeability all count for a lot. Being a race driver requires huge mental fortitude,” says the boy whose daily regimen involves mental training, “I do reaction time testing and I juggle - for balance and skill.”
Racing is an expensive sport, and staying on the track is thanks to the unflinching support by his parents. “I'm motivated by the fact they trust me and know I'm working hard,” says Atharva. He practices on iRacing, a simulation software. “There are actual drivers and scouts on it, so I practice and register for races,” says the teen, who loves to skateboard or decipher the Rubic's Cubes. Music is also a pet passion, “When I have time to spare, I make electronic music on my laptop,” he adds. The Indian teen racing champ’s 3,420 followers on Instagram are fondly called A4Rians, and he regularly updates them on race day highs.
As Youth Ambassador for Quench 66 by AquaKraft Pvt. Ltd, an initiative by the government of Maharashtra, he is also moving forward the mission to provide 50 million litres of drinking water across 500 schools in the state.
(February 21, 2023) The climate change sweeping the world is occurring at a faster pace than previously thought, making it imperative that governments act now to reverse the damage being done to the planet. According to a study by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), over the last few decades, the exploitation of our planet and the degradation of our environment has gone up at an alarming rate. With several natural disasters striking us more often in the form of flash floods, earthquakes, blizzards, tsunamis, and cyclones, many environmentalists have positioned themselves as advocates of sustainability, determined to meet the climate crisis at humanity’s doorstep. Global Indian takes a look at young Indians, who have been working on protecting this planet. Through their sustainability efforts across fashion, water conservation, waste management, education, policymaking, and sustainable energy, these young environmentalists inspire and impact thousands of people around the globe. Sneha Shahi, reviving rivers As a young child, environmentalist Sneha Shahi would visit the northeastern region of India, almost every summer, where her father was stationed. And that's when she fell in love with nature. Growing up in Vadodara, Gujarat, Sneha was always a girl who showed a keen interest in environmental activities.
n love with nature. Growing up in Vadodara, Gujarat, Sneha was always a girl who showed a keen interest in environmental activities. Today, a Ph.D. scholar at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru, Sneha is among the 17 UN Young Climate Champions from India.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQzojOBQ44
"Since we were in school, we have been learning how plastic waste and its irresponsible disposal harm our flora, fauna, and land water systems. While we are taught about it, most people do not do anything to reduce the impact," shared the activist, who removed about 700 kg of waste from a natural rivulet that people thought to be a gutter.
Currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Extreme Hydrological Events at ATREE, Bengaluru, Sneha is gearing up to work on the restoration of the only perennial river in Tamil Nadu, Thamirabarani. "It has been only six months since I started the programme here and the project is still getting developed. The objectives currently are to restore this beautiful river, Thamirabarani, which is about 128 km long," shares Sneha, adding, "It supports drinking water and agricultural activities. We do not just want to install physical instruments to control pollution, but also create awareness about the pollution and change their mindset," shared the environmentalist.
Sagarika Sriram, climate change activist
A young 17-year-old took centre stage while top leaders from across the world gathered to discuss how they can save our planet from the changing climatic conditions at COP27, held in Egypt. Addressing her audience, the young environment activist, Sagarika Sriram, pointed out the youth’s perspective on sustainability and how youngsters can have their voices heard. Stressing how awareness must be raised in schools, her closing remarks pushed for the youth around the world to be heard when it comes to their sustainable goals, ending her speech to thunderous applause from the audience.
Called an "inspiration to all young girls in her country and West Asia” by the U.N. Environment Programme, the Dubai-based Indian ex-pat has been able to inspire and motivate numerous kids to join the movement for a cleaner and healthier future for all. Her digital platform Kids for a Better World, which the young environment activist created in 2016 as a school project, has brought together nearly 100,000 young kids from around the globe who too want to fight climate change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPWtMtGOs-s
The environmentalist who has organised numerous local clean-up drives and workshops for kids believes that young people have to stand for the cause to prevent the impact of climate change. "I want to make a real change and contribute towards helping the planet revive. I just finished my final examinations and want to take a year's break to concentrate on the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, which will take place in the UAE," she shared.
Soumya Ranjan Biswal, marine conservation
Mangroves might appear to be merely coastal forests, but these rich ecosystems support the planet and living being in many ways. From providing breeding grounds for fish to carbon storage, and protection against flooding mangroves does it all. However, despite its importance, the mangrove forests are under threat. Odisha-based, 24-year-old environmentalist Soumya Ranjan Biswal has been voluntarily growing intending to regenerate the mangrove forests along the 18-km-long beach stretch for the last few years. Locally called Rai, Harakancha, Sundari, Bani, Guan, and Keruan, these plants are integral to the coastal habitat and livelihood of local fishermen.
The youngster is also working tirelessly to protect the threatened habitat of Olive Ridley turtles. From making sure eggs of the endangered species are protected from predators like dogs, jackals, and other animals, taking out cycle rallies to spread awareness among coastal inhabitants for the safety of the sea turtles to cleaning the beaches for the release of hatchlings, Soumya, fondly called Olly Boy has been doing it all. When the Odisha government agreed to have the Olive Ridley sea turtle as the mascot for the 2018 Hockey World Cup, that was when the young environmentalist decided to hold their historic one-month-long cycle expedition, paddling through coastal pockets of Rushikulya, Puri, Chilika, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore to create awareness about the protection of the turtles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeXCsE5eKEo
While Olive Ridleys are close to Soumya, he has also been working for the cause of sparrows, reviving dry water bodies in forests and keeping beaches plastic-free. "As a coastal village boy, I've always been affected by ocean and beach pollution, high mortality rates of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, and mangrove destruction which have resulted in the occurrence of consistent natural calamities. This made me feel more strongly about issues like environmental degradation, climate change, and its impact on the marine ecosystem." Soumya had said during an earlier interview. Soumya was part of the "We The Change" campaign initiated by the United Nations in India.
Hina Saifi, clean air and renewable energy activist
Working with NGOs within her village in Meerut, Hina Saifi started to work on climate awareness after noting a lack of environmental awareness in her polluted village of Sisosla. From campaigning for solar-powered solutions to mobilising local communities to tackle air pollution through public campaigns, call for action, and pamphlets, Hina has been associated with the 100% Uttar Pradesh Campaign and The Climate Agenda since 2018.
"I believe that if there’s public awareness first, then we can improve the environment. It will happen if people are aware of climate-friendly behaviours and actions. This is why I want to work in the space of public awareness and mobilization." Hina advocated during a press interaction. After she launched ‘Suraj Se Samriddhi’, a campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of solar power, Hina was selected as the United Nation Young Environment Champion last year.
Berjis Driver, sustainable urban planner
An urban planner and associate member of the Institute of Town Planners India, Berjis Driver is working with the government authorities to reduce disparities, and improve accessibility and quality of life in cities. Berjis' expertise in environmental planning was important in understanding the relationship between Mumbai’s infrastructure and its environment. As an architect, he has been contributing to statutory urban policy and guideline preparation in Mumbai and Amravati.
A UN Youth Environment Champion, Berjis advocates that the urban cities' environment has been disconnected from the ecosystem. The norms on a per capita basis track back to the 60s and 70s and are not relevant to India today. He has been working to implement the basic benchmarks for green infrastructure, with rigorous control, in every city. "The promise of being able to reach out and scale up climate action, to learn the truth behind the origins and contexts of sustainability, help navigate it favourably, and to be able to safeguard the weakest in the face of climate change, is what continues to motivate me in this journey," Berjis has shared during an interview.
(November 10, 2023) Maryland-based Vayun Amula wears many hats at the tender age of 15. The freshman at Poolesville High School is an integral part of Rise N Shine, the youth-led initiative aimed to tackle the effects of food waste through composting and food recovery programmes. Outside of school and community activities, he is a state level cricket player in Maryland and has a knack for innovation to solve problems. The youngster excels in all his many interests and has earned many awards and accolades for his accomplishments. He received the Governor's Youth Service Award 2023, and the President's Volunteer Service Award (Gold) in 2022. In Maryland’s official qualifying tournaments of the First Lego League, Vayun and his team managed to earn the first position becoming the recipients of the Innovation Project Award in 2022. Another big achievement came one year prior, when Vayun led a team to bag the first position in the Robert Design Awards and also the Core Values Awards in that year’s first Lego League tournament in Maryland state. [caption id="attachment_34019" align="aligncenter" width="694"] Vayun Amula[/caption] “I manage my cricket, studies, volunteerism, and other activities by sticking to a schedule,” the youngster says, as he connects with Global
“I manage my cricket, studies, volunteerism, and other activities by sticking to a schedule,” the youngster says, as he connects with Global Indian. Once he returns from school his afternoons and evenings, from three to 10 pm, are a choc-a-block with activities as he works to meet the demands of his multiple interests.
Managing food waste to avert climate change
The United States discards more food than any other country in the world. Every year in United States, approximately 31% (133 billion pounds) of the overall food supply is wasted by consumers and retailers, as per the estimates of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS). The wasted food is either dumped in landfills or burned in trash incinerators. This leads to 18% of the US’ total methane emissions that come from landfills, resulting in global warming and impacting food security and resource conservation.
Vayun found inspiration in his elder sister, Shrusti Amula, the founder of the non-profit, Rise N Shine Foundation, who earned the prestigious title of L’Oreal’s 'Woman of Worth' honouree this year. Witnessing her dedication and the significant impact his sister’s work was making, Vayun decided to become a part of the organisation himself.
[caption id="attachment_34020" align="aligncenter" width="683"] One of Rise N Shine’s food collection drives[/caption]
“I became a part of the Rise N Shine Foundation in 2020, when my sister explained the pressing problems in the world, such as food wastage, climate change and homelessness. Her passion for addressing these issues compelled me to join non-profit as the COO (Chief Operating Officer). I am committed to working with the foundation's dedicated team to make a positive impact on these critical challenges,” he says.
Innovation and awards
Vayun’s dedication to the cause did not go unnoticed and this year he received the Governor's Youth Service Award, a state-level recognition program that honours young individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities through volunteer work and service initiatives. This award aims to acknowledge and celebrate young people who have demonstrated leadership, dedication, and a commitment to positive social change. In 2022 he had received the President’s Volunteer Service Award (Gold) for his work at the non-profit.
He also received the Gold Star award for Student Engagement from Montgomery County’s Public School system (MCPS). “This award is given to students who demonstrate intensive involvement in leadership, service, and extracurriculars and have more than four years of proven track record in athletic and/or extracurricular activities. I got this award for all my service, leadership and extracurricular involvements, in addition to my work with Rise N Shine,” he says.
[caption id="attachment_34023" align="aligncenter" width="737"] Vayun Amula with a friend[/caption]
In pursuit of STEM learning and problem-solving
In the 2022 First Lego League innovation project, Vayun undertook research on a pressing issue involving cargo containers falling off cargo ships. Their investigation revealed a significant 40 percent slowdown at a California port in 2021 due to such incidents. To address this problem, Vayun and his team introduced a ground-breaking solution known as the ‘smart container’, which resolved multiple challenges. One of these challenges involved preserving products at a consistent temperature, achieved by incorporating smart heaters and coolers. The smart container was designed to also equip electromagnets and wind sensors. Vayun and his team’s exceptional prototype secured the first position at prestigious Innovation Project award.
In 2021, serving as the team leader, the youngster achieved a remarkable feat by securing the First Lego League Robert Design Award for his team. He had played a pivotal role in programming a robot to excel in the Robo Game. Additionally, his team was honoured with The Core Value Award, which recognises exceptional learning and teamwork. “Receiving the Core Values Award is a significant achievement in FLL, as it highlights not only a team's technical prowess but also its character and commitment to collaboration and ethical behaviour in the pursuit of STEM learning and problem-solving,” Vayun says.
Cricket, India and future goals
A state level cricket player of Maryland, Vayun has been representing his state in the Mid-Atlantic region in U15 cricket matches. “My dad is a big fan of cricket and I was introduced to the cricket by him. He is my coach as well as my practice buddy,” he smiles.
The native of Maryland, maintains a close connection with his place of origin, Mumbai. His software professional parents have reinforced the family’s ties with India through regular visits.
Despite excelling in sports, the youngster aspires to be a successful entrepreneur. "I want to establish a company that can consistently make a positive impact by assisting those in need," he signs off.
(May 3, 2023) In 2020, a 20-year-old Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash broke human computer Shakuntala Devi’s record when he won India’s first ever gold medal at the Mental Calculation World Championship held in London. He wasn’t just the first Indian but also the first Asian to claim a gold and the BBC went on to report, “You could say Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash is to maths what Usain Bolt is to running.” This was his competition debut and Neelakantha managed to defeat 29 opponents from 13 countries. He was so fast that judges made him jump through more hoops and make even tougher calculations to confirm his extraordinary accuracy. Three years have passed since then and the Hyderabad based youngster has visited more than 23 countries, conducted more than 500 stage shows and impacted two million students with a mission to eradicate maths phobia. Neelakantha, who holds 50 Limca records for his extraordinary math calculations founded his company Bhanzu, a math ed-tech platform that aims to revolutionise the global math learning landscape. In 2022, Forbes featured the Global Indian in its 30 Under 30 Asia list, for making a difference to the math learning environment through his social entrepreneurship. [caption id="attachment_29720"
more than 500 stage shows and impacted two million students with a mission to eradicate maths phobia. Neelakantha, who holds 50 Limca records for his extraordinary math calculations founded his company Bhanzu, a math ed-tech platform that aims to revolutionise the global math learning landscape. In 2022, Forbes featured the Global Indian in its 30 Under 30 Asia list, for making a difference to the math learning environment through his social entrepreneurship.
Born in in Eluru in Andhra Pradesh, Neelakantha suffered a head injury in 2005, which left him bedridden for one year. However, instead of being bogged down by adversity, he picked up math and mental calculation as a hobby and worked to hone his skills. When he finally recuperated, he entered the competition circuit.
"My parents were told I might be cognitively impaired. So, I picked up mental maths calculations for survival, to keep my brain engaged," he told the BBC in an interview.
Over the years, the math stalwart has bagged many gold medals and has held world records for fast arithmetic calculations. He has also won the International Speed Math Championship '13 and the National Speed Math Championship '11 and '12. In 2015, he won the Math Genius Award.
After he graduated from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Public School (Vidyashram) Hyderabad, he went on to study at St. Stephen's College, Delhi and earned a BSc honours degree in Mathematics.
[caption id="attachment_29716" align="aligncenter" width="897"] Neelakantha with his trophies when he was 10 years of age[/caption]
Helping get rid of maths phobia
In one of his many TEDx talks Neelakantha asked the audience, “Why is maths something that we universally accept as important but are always consistently scared of?” It’s a phobia he hopes to remove from the minds of young students. Neelakantha has been working to make youngsters understand mathematics in such a way that they are able to engage with the subject more fully.
In the TEDx talk he remarked, “250 million students in India are currently in schools learning math. Out of these, more than 187 million students cannot do simple math calculations. It is not okay to be in a position where fundamental skills – literacy and numeracy are still not achieved.”
In order to inspire children and teach them to love mathematics, his company Bhanzu offers a special curriculum that makes math a fun activity, which is relatable and can be used in daily life.
Mental math is a sport, Neelakantha believes. He has trained his mind to think quickly, whether it is in Math or something else. He doesn’t, however, like to be called a prodigy, saying it is not an ability he was born with, but something he developed with hard work. As a child, he would spend over six hours a day practicing, after school.
“I look at it as "unstructured practise where I keep thinking about numbers all the time," he said in an interview."I practice with loud music on, when I’m talking to people, catching and playing cricket, because this is when your brain is being trained to do multiple things at the same time," he added.
Considering it his duty to promote math as something ‘enjoyable’ the math wizard is on a mission to ‘eradicate math phobia and explore infinite capabilities of the human brain’.
(September 9, 2023) We seldom come across a successful professional cricketer who has an equally successful career outside the realm of sports. A principal member of technical staff at Oracle, Saurabh Netravalkar is one such rare cricketer. The India-born is an ace sportstar who has has even captained the USA national team, representing the United States in international cricket. He juggles his corporate role and also plays for the Washington Freedom, an American professional Twenty20 cricket team that competes in the Major League Cricket (MLC). It’s not easy to excel in two very demanding jobs. Saurabh works odd hours on tours and even on his team bus to meet his corporate responsibilities. A left-arm medium-fast bowler, Saurabh recently won the ‘Player of the Match’ award in an MLC match with San Francisco Unicorns emerging as the standout performer. [caption id="attachment_32972" align="aligncenter" width="574"] Saurabh Netravalkar[/caption] Not new to outstanding performances, Saurabh has been India's highest wicket taker in the 2010 Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand, and was the man of the series in the tri-nations U-19 tournament in South Africa. The Mumbai-born was also named the best junior cricketer in India in 2009/10. When his cricketing career was just taking
Not new to outstanding performances, Saurabh has been India's highest wicket taker in the 2010 Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand, and was the man of the series in the tri-nations U-19 tournament in South Africa. The Mumbai-born was also named the best junior cricketer in India in 2009/10.
When his cricketing career was just taking off in India, he had moved to the US to pursue his higher studies.
Choosing academics over sports
When someone possesses a brilliant academic record in computer science engineering from one of the nation’s premier institutions, lucrative and stable employment opportunities abroad provide a constant allure. This led Saurabh, an alumnus of the Sardar Patel Institute of Technology in Mumbai to pursue his masters abroad, that too at an Ivy League school, and subsequently bag a lucrative job at Oracle.
However, the cricketer in him was not able to stay away from the sport for long. With his dedication, coupled with luck, he has become a prominent cricketer in the United States in a short span of time. Saurabh has been efficiently giving action-packed performances with his ability to effortlessly swing the ball in both directions.
[caption id="attachment_32967" align="aligncenter" width="518"] Saurabh Netravalkar in action[/caption]
The hard decision
He was 23 when he had to take the crucial decision regarding his career path. The Mumbai boy, who had already proven his mettle as a skilled left-arm pacer, ultimately opted to prioritise further education in the United States, relinquishing his aspirations of a cricketing career in India. This decision came two years after his inaugural match in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy back in 2013, where he played against Karnataka, a match that also featured his former India Under-19 teammate, KL Rahul.
“It was a very emotional decision for me to leave cricket behind and come to the US to pursue higher education,” the Mumbai-born cricketer said in an interview.
Unforgettable experiences
For Saurabh, his experiences in his short but successful cricketing career in India are significant. Those experiences have helped him to charter a fresh path in the world of U.S. cricket.
[caption id="attachment_32980" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Saurabh Netravalkar with Cricket Stalwarts in 2013-14[/caption]
He cherishes participating in the BCCI Corporate Trophy as a member of the Air India team under the leadership of the renowned Indian cricketer of that era, Yuvraj Singh.Other present-day Indian cricket stars like Suresh Raina were also part of the tournament. “My performance in that competition was commendable, and it played a pivotal role in my selection for the India Under-19 squad,” he shared. He had made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy.
While K.L. Rahul, along with fellow participants of the 2010 U-19 World Cup such as Mayank Agarwal and Jaydev Unadkat, embarked on their journey towards representing the senior Indian cricket team and securing IPL contracts, Saurabh went on to pursue a master's degree in computer science at Cornell University.
Once a sportsman, always a sportsman
After completing his masters and entering the corporate world, the software engineer has been able to find a foothold in the United States team, and play with some of the current top players. “It was always a dream to play against top international players and test my abilities. I am really grateful to get that chance finally," said the Global Indian who loves singing to the tunes of his guitar.
Saurabh has been balancing his passion and full-time job successfully. “I am a software engineer, so I have to mostly code. The timings are flexible, which is a good thing about this profession. So, I can work at my own time,” he remarked. “My goal in cricket and life is to keep on scaling up and to be consistent,” he added.
In Saurabh Netravalkar, cricket enthusiasts and the diaspora find a remarkable example of someone representing India's beloved sport on an international stage.
Atharva Desai at the Anglesey Circuit in Wales[/caption]
One of Rise N Shine’s food collection drives[/caption]
Vayun Amula with a friend[/caption]
Vayun Amula[/caption]
Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash[/caption]
Neelakantha with his trophies when he was 10 years of age[/caption]
Saurabh Netravalkar in action[/caption]
Saurabh Netravalkar with Cricket Stalwarts in 2013-14[/caption]