The girls’ basketball team, led by Captain Uditi Gupta, has been putting in relentless hours of work as BOSM approaches. In a recent interview with the BOSM English Press, Uditi explained that over the past month and a half, the team has balanced evening and morning practices, often training for more than two and a half hours a day. Their regimen combines fitness sessions for everyone with specialised ball drills and shooting practice tailored to each position. Recently, the focus had shifted to team play, with practice matches dominating their schedule. With just a week left before BOSM, the team plans to continue at full speed until Sunday, playing as many test matches as possible. After that, practice would be scaled back to avoid injury and exertion in the days leading up to the tournament. 

When asked about recruitments, Uditi replied that this year posed some challenges. While in previous years the team often relied on players with prior experience, many of the fresh recruits this year started from scratch. They had to be coached and aided with building their skills from the ground up, teaching everything from fitness routines to dribbling and shooting. Despite the steep learning curve, most freshers showed up consistently and improved rapidly.

Uditi also stated that time management and discipline was another hurdle the recruits had to overcome. Many of the newcomers struggled to balance morning and evening practices alongside academics, meals, and rest. However, the team has made significant progress. As Gupta noted, the difference between their first day and their forty-fifth day on the court is remarkable.

Last BOSM, the team secured a bronze medal, and this year they aimed to go higher. Their main competition was expected to come from Delhi University (DU) college, which often included national-level players. Regardless, she emphasised that the team was determined to make its mark.

For Gupta, being Captain was both demanding and rewarding. She stated she had to manage, teach, and play while stepping in to coach alongside her batch, often without much support from the official coach. Despite the difficulties, she described seeing her teammates grow stronger and more confident as very fulfilling. 

Looking ahead, she encouraged her basketball juniors and the current 25 batch to treasure the experience of their first BOSM, calling it ‘so, so, so special.’ She also requested everyone to attend all the games, citing the difference a loud cheer and unwavering support could make to the morale of a player.