Sonia Dogra, Keekli Reporter, September, 2016, Chandigarh
If I were to draw a parallel between King Midas and Vasundhara Thiara, the girl whose golf kit has literally grown with her, I would simply say that this teenager possesses the prized golden touch. With more than a hundred championships under her belt, the girl from Chandigarh is blazing at just thirteen years of age. With her recent win in both the Individual and Team categories at Albatross, All India Inter School Golf Championship, Vasundhara is the current rage in her circle.
Well grounded and focussed, she refuses to be intoxicated by her glories and certainly cannot be deterred by obstacles.
Recalling her foray into golf she says, “I was three when I wanted to play cricket with my brother and his friends. Since the cricket bat was a bit heavy for me, I was handed over a tennis racquet. As I played, my parents who were watching me, particularly took note of my hand and eye coordination. And that’s how the journey started. I was enrolled under a coach and since then there has been no looking back”.
A student of Class VIII at Vivek High School, Chandigarh, Vasundhara enjoys Volley Ball and Theatre as well. She also likes to swim, listen to music and is an avid reader. She was awarded with her school’s Sports Blazer when she was in Class V, making her the youngest recipient of the same. She has also been awarded with a full scholarship by the school. Vasundhara is all praises for her teachers who are very cooperative when it comes to her school work.
“They help me complete my work with extra classes every time I’ve been away for a tournament”.
Ever since her first tournament at the age of four, Vasundhara has today come a long long way having secured a second position in the Chandigarh, Northern India and Army Ladies and Junior Golf Tournaments this year. She is under the able-guidance of Coach Jesse Grewal, a Category A trainer who is also TPI certified and is the Director of National Golf Association of India. Vasundhara trains for two hours everyday and on weekends her sessions stretch upto four hours. Her physical fitness trainer is Sagar Diwan, again TPI certified.
“I really focus on physical fitness as I consider it extremely important for my sport”, adds Vasundhara when asked about her strength vis a vis other players her age.
The recent years have been very fruitful for Vasundhara.With a win in the 5th Kohinoor All India Albatross Inter School Junior Golf Championship and a third rank in the Mercedes Benz JGC, Asian Masters Final in 2015; a first position in the WGA Northern India Pre Qualifier in 2014; and the winning trophy in both TATA Steel Delhi and Rajasthan Sub Junior & Feeder Tour in 2013, she can boast of a rather envious record.
So, what is the mantra???
“Passion for something and hard work”, comes the apt response and you are left wondering if a teenager is supposed to have such lucid ideas!!!
And even as I continue my downpour about her achievements, Vasundhara is quick to introduce me to her pillars of strength. Father, Ajay Thiara — a businessman and mother, Tanisha who works for the British Council. Her parents have been very supportive of her and would take turns to take her for her practice sessions ever since she was three. No wonder she is the daughter they dote on today. The family has also another champion. Vasundhara’s elder brother Zoravar happens to be an International Horse Rider having won many championships. As for her friends… “They are more excited than me every time I come back after winning a tournament!”
Presently, Vasundhara is aiming at a selection in the Indian Squad and thereafter she starts her preparations for the Youth Asian Games, Youth Olympics, Asian Games and the Olympics.
I am forced to put forward one last question. Hasn’t it been tough? Has she ever felt weighed down by expectations? Does she find enough time to recoup and enjoy with children her age?
Vasundhara laughs it off like a seasoned player so sure of herself.
“There’s just no pressure. We all have our good and bad days. I take things as they come… figure out what went wrong in an event and work at it. And yes, I do find time in plenty to be with my friends.”
The signing note tells me here’s a girl we must watch out for. Dexterous, poised and balanced she surely has her head above her shoulders and with a wonderful support system at home and a record par excellence, Vasundhara is definitely going places.
Achievements in Golf — Timeline
- Asian Ranking No. 3 (2015)
- Ranked No. 1 in India in the IGU order of merit for Girls Category-D- (2014)
- World Ranking No. 17 as per US Kids World Championship (2013)
- European Ranking No. 3 as per US Kids European Championship (2013)
- Albatross, All India Inter-school Golf Championship-2016
1st Position- Individual Category-B for Girls
1st Position-Team Category-A & B
25th – 26th August, 2016
ITC Golf Course, Gurgaon
- IGU Southern India Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championship
3rd Position
27th – 30th June, 2016
Coimbatore Golf Club
- IGU Army Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championship
2nd Position
16th – 19th May, 2016
AEPTA, Delhi
- IGU Northern India Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championship
2nd Position
9th – 12th May, 2016
The Palms Golf Club, Lucknow
- IGU Chandigarh Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Tournament
2nd Position
2nd – 5th May, 2016
Chandigarh Golf Club
- Delhi Golf Club Inter Club Junior Golf Tournament
1st Position- A & B Team Category
1st Position –Overall Category for Girls
17th-18th November, 2015
Delhi Golf Club
- 5th Kohinoor All India Albatross Interschool Junior Golf Championship.
1st Position- A & B Team Category
1st Runners-up – B Category for Girls
27th-28th August 2015
ITC Classic Golf Course, Gurgaon
- Mercedes-Benz Junior Golf Championship, Asian Masters Final
3rd Position– Girls 12 and under
10th – 12th June 2015
Burapha Golf Course, Chonburi, Thailand
- 2nd Position- IGU USHA Southern India Ladies Amateur
22nd -25th June 2015
Eagleton Golf Club, Bangalore.
- 1st Position- IGU Army Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championship
4th -7th May 2015
AEPTA Golf Course, New Delhi
- 2nd Position- IGU Chandigarh Ladies & Juniors Girls Golf Championship
28th April 2015 to 1st May
Chandigarh Golf Club, Chandigarh
- 1st Position- Captains Day Tournament
0-8 Handicap
5th April-2015
Chandigarh Golf Club, Chandigarh
- 1st Position- IGU Eastern India Ladies and Junior Girls Golf Championship
17th -20th November , 2014
Tollygunge, Kolkata
- 3rd Position -Ahmedabad Juniors
14th – 16th Oct 2014
Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad
- 1st Position-WGA Northern India Pre-Qualifier
24th – 25th June 2014
Panchkula Golf Course, Panchkula
- 3rd Position-Nr Group JWGC Karnataka Juniors
08th – 10th June 2014
JWGC, Mysore
- 3rd Position- Southern India JUNIOR GIRLS
3rd – 5th June 2014
Bengaluru
- 1st Position- USHA Northern India Ladies Amateur. 2014
5th -08th May, 2014
Delhi Golf Club
- 1st Position- IGU Army Ladies Amateur. 2014
29th -02nd May, 2014
AEPTA, Delhi
- 1st Position- 3rd CGA Junior Tournament. 2013-14
10th-11th Feb, 2014
Chandigarh Golf Club
- Winner of Silver Division & 1st Position- Sub Juniors
20th Punjab Open Ladies Amateur
3rd-6th February, 2014
Chandigarh Golf Club
- 1st Position- TATA Steel IGU All India Sub-Junior and Feeder Tour-2013
Nov 18th -22nd , 2013
West Zone Final
BPCG, Mumbai
- 1st Position- TATA Steel IGU All India Sub-Junior and Feeder Tour-2013
Oct 23rd -24th , 2013
East Zone Final
Tollygunge, Kolkata
- 1st Position- TATA STEEL Haryana Sub Jnr & Feeder Tour
Oct 02 – 04, 2013
RCF Kapurthala
- 1st Position- 2nd CGA Junior Tournament. 2013-14 , Girls Category-D
28th – 29th Sept, 2013
Forest Hill Golf Resort
Mohali
- 1st Position- 1st CGA Junior Tournament. 2013
20th-21st June, 2013
Panchkula Golf Club
- 1st Position -TATA STEEL Rajasthan Sub Jnr & Feeder Tour
June 11-13, 2013
Rambagh Golf Club
- 1st Position – TATA STEEL Delhi Sub Jnr & Feeder Tour2013
June 4 – 6, 2013
Army Golf Course, Delhi
- 1st Position-Tata Steel IGU North Zone Haryana Sub-Junior & Feeder Tour-2013
11th-12th April 2013
Kharga, EPTA, Ambala
- 1st Position- 3rdS Kids World Championship Qualifier
10th April 2013,
Kharga, EPTA, Ambala
- 1st Position-Tata Steel IGU North Zone Chandigarh Sub-Junior & Feeder Tour-2013
4th-5th April 2013
Shivalik, Chandimadnir.
- 1st Position- 2ndS Kids World Championship Qualifier
3rd April 2013,
Shivalik, Chandimandir.
- 1st Position-Chandigarh State Championship 2013
12th-13th February, 2013
Chandigarh Golf Club, Chandigarh
- 1st Position- 50th Albatross Junior Golf Tournament
8th February, 2013
Karma Lakelands, Gurgaon
- 1st Position- 50th Albatross Junior Golf Tournament
8th February, 2013
Karma Lakelands, Gurgaon