The BOSM English Press interviewed Ashi Sharma, the Captain of the girls’ basketball team, to learn about their preparation for the fest. 

When asked about their training regimen, she explained that they practised twice every day, two hours in the mornings and three in the evenings. As BOSM drew closer, they extended their evening practice hours. Practice included fitness training and position-specific drills, which had recently been supervised by a coach under whose guidance, she stated, had improved the performance of the team. 

Addressing the problems faced by them, Ashi mentioned that the team had difficulty dealing with the water-logging on the courts due to the rains. She stated that the team had to wait for the rain to stop and then clean up the courts themselves so that they could practice. Coming to balancing academics with basketball, she said that although it was challenging at first to juggle practice and academics, everyone eventually managed to learn to do so.

Ashi commended her team’s efforts and dedication to practice, as well as their improvement over the year. Speaking about recruitment, she said that consistency and dedication to the team are major requirements because everything else can be taught. The team helped the recruits develop their skills over time and expected consistency from them. Ashi highlighted that chemistry is a key aspect and that she believed it to be a crucial component for the success of the team.

Regarding competition at BOSM 2024, Ashi highlighted Sri Ram College of Commerce, O.P. Jindal Global University, and IIT Roorkee as significant rivals. Ashi remarked that the team was looking forward to facing these colleges and was hoping to get the best of them.

When asked about her experience as a captain, Ashi described it as ‘incredible’. She asserted that the team had spent so much time together on the court that it was something ‘like a family’. She alluded to her team’s ambition and their ethical practices, such as always looking out for each other and valuing consistency and improvement. Likewise, she appreciated the effective communication channels with the institute and the CoSSAc. She concluded by saying that her role as captain was to ensure that everyone on the team was humble, present, motivated, and in good spirits.