Date:18/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/18/stories/2008111856741800.htm

Sport - Tennis

Anju Thomas quits

Stan Rayan

— Photo: H. Vibhu

Anju K. Thomas.

KOCHI: At 19, an age when many talented youngsters plan some serious steps to excel in sport, Kerala table tennis star Anju K. Thomas has called it a day.

“With all the studies and tuitions, I don’t have the time to continue table tennis,” said the second year student of Mar Baselious College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, after the State championship in Alappuzha on Sunday evening. “I’m quitting the game, this is my last State championship.”

The tall Anju, an attacking player, won the State women’s title in Thiruvananthapuram last year and finished runner-up to Idukki’s Adheena K. Latheef in both the women’s and youth girls final in Alappuzha on Sunday.

“The women’s final was very close …just two points away from winning, I messed it up…I could have got it,” said Anju after her last game. “But I had not been practising, I resumed playing just two weeks before the championship. So, my fitness was a problem. I played more than 20 matches today.”

Despite skipping her training sessions at the Thiruvananthapuram YMCA, Anju had been shadow-practising at home the last few months, just to stay in touch with the game.

She will now be back to her books, with a free and clear mind.