Things happened too fast for Hong Kong’s India-born Saloni Samurbhai Mehta.
It all began when one of her cousins, Yash Karani, visited the Mehta family in Hong Kong China for a holiday.
“My cousin told my mum to enrol me in a sports club apart from my studies. That was all and I joined a badminton club as there are many badminton clubs in Hong Kong.
“That was all I needed to pick up the sport. P.V. Sindhu (India) and Nozomi Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi (both from Japan) are an inspiration to me,” said Mehta after helping her country to a 5-0 win over Macau China in a Group B mixed team event in the Pembangunan Jaya Raya Badminton Asia Junior Championships in Bintaro, Jakarta on Sunday.
However, both Hong Kong and Macau are out of contention in the mixed team event but the “spirit of sportsmanship” was displayed by both teams.
Mehta’s point came in the women’s singles – the third tie of the match – defeating Chio Weng Yu 21-5, 21-11 in only 18 minutes, which happened to be the quickest.
Cousin Yash is a table tennis player back in India.
Only 15-years-old Mehta comes from a family of four and is bent on making a career in badminton – more some when the shuttle sport is the fastest growing sport in the world.
“I have made my way into the Hong Kong national team on merit and it showed that with hard work and discipline nothing is impossible. Of course, I am thrilled and excited to wear Hong Kong colors as it is my country although I was born in India,” added Mehta.
She first represented Hong Kong in last year’s Badminton Asia Under-15 and Under-17 Championships in Yangon, Myanmar. She failed to make past the second round.
Mehta will be in Myanmar again for the same championships this year which will be held in the City of Mandalay.
For now, in the Asian Junior meet in Bintaro, Mehta will is preparing herself for the individual events. “I will be happy to reach the third round,” said Mehta. – Badminton Asia
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