Representing the Greater Mumbai Badminton Association, Naheed Divecha won two gold and one silver medal at the 43rd Indian Masters (Veteran) Nationals Badminton 2018-19 in Goa. She won gold in the Women’s Doubles and the Mixed Doubles, and silver for being a finalist and runner-up in the Women’s Singles 45+ category, notes a press release. She had to play a "grueling 14 marathon games to reach the finals of all three events on February 2, 2019,” she informed Parsiana. Having played for the World Championships in Ankara in 2013 and Sweden in 2015 in the 40+ age group, this August she will participate in the World Championships in Poland.
Her partner for the Women’s Doubles title in the 45+ category was Dr Wrishalee Patil. For the Mixed Doubles title in the same age group she partnered with Cdr Ashutosh Pednekar. Around 1,800 participants had registered for the Nationals this year held at the Multipurpose Stadium in Mapusa from January 28 to February 3.
With Patil based in Jalgaon, Divecha who lives in Bombay had managed just a few practice sessions together before the State tournament. "When we won, we went on to play the nationals together. But since we have both been playing on the circuit for many years it’s more on-court coordination that is important and that grows and develops every single time you play together,” stated Divecha. With Pednekar, a Navy commander based in Bombay, she practices "on a regular basis, about once a week. He is an excellent sportsman who has won the World Racketlon (a combination sport in which competitors play a sequence of the four most popular racket sports: table tennis, badminton, squash, and tennis) title many times.”
Naheed Divecha with Dr Wrishalee Patil (l) and Cdr Ashutosh Pednekar
Divecha, who has been participating in the Masters (Veteran) circuit from the time she completed 36 years, explained that those who have crossed 35 years of age can compete in the Masters events. The age divisions of 35+, 40+, 45+ all the way to 70+ attempt to create a level playing field.
Two other Parsis competed in the Nationals this year: Dilnaz Anklesaria from Indore played in the 55+ category and Darayus Surti from Baroda in the 70+ group. Anklesaria, who has represented India thrice before in Canada, Turkey and Europe, made it to the quarter finals of the Mixed Doubles. Surti who won the Men’s Doubles has qualified for the World Championships in Poland.
In the month of December, at the Senior (Maharashtra) State Veteran Badminton Selection tournament, Divecha won the triple crown in the 45+ category. At the events from December 12 to 16, 2018 held at the Bombay Gymkhana, Divecha won the Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles.
After a week’s break in February to rest her joints and muscles, the mother of three switched to tennis practice to prepare for the All Parsis Tennis Tournament (APTT) organized by the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture (FOZAWAC) at the Wodehouse Gymkhana on February 23 and 24.
This year at the APTT there were over 50 competitors, many playing more than one event. The majority, nearly 35, were males, observed Divecha who has been coordinating this event with Firdaus Shroff for the last seven years. Over the years she has won the Women’s singles approximately five times and the Mixed Doubles six times at the APTT. This year she was "a proud runner-up, partnering my 83-year-old Dad (Pheroze Kharas).” According to her, "I am not primarily a tennis player and just play occasionally because I enjoy playing tennis in the outdoors so much.” Seeing a lot more veterans at these meets, she notes, "The main aim of this Tournament is to encourage youngsters and give them a platform to play more tournaments and give them confidence and practice to go out and play larger tournaments. It is also good to see the older generation staying fit and playing their best in the sweltering heat which is a great inspiration to the young juniors who watch them… We really need to encourage young girls and women to come forward and play.”
Exercising almost seven days a week, Divecha revealed that two or three times a week she plays badminton in the mornings, trying to focus on proper drill and footwork training. Twice a week she goes to the Bombay Gymkhana to build strength with weights. On Saturdays and Sundays she is busy at karate with husband Rushad and son Keahn. "This is something we have been doing for over 10 years and all three of us are now Black Belts. This has contributed tremendously to my fitness, strength and stamina.” Last August all three of them represented India at the First Okinawa International Kata Tournament in Japan.