Bangalore: Seven years ago, Kruthika Lakshman stood baffled in front of the Chamundi Vihar Stadium in Mysore.
She had come for the Sports School selection trials, the tall and upcoming spiker keen on a berth in the volleyball team. But Kruthika could not showcase her skills because she arrived late.
Subsequently, the selectors drafted her into the basketball team, and the youngster was forced to play an 'alien' game. Nevertheless, she took it as a challenge and learnt the nuances under the watchful eyes of coach Balakrishna. Soon the eighth standard student became a vital cog in the school's senior side.
Now, the 22-year-old Mysore-born, Bangalore-based Kruthika has cemented her place in the National senior women's squad and is being hailed as one of the best hoopsters from Karnataka.
She donned India colours in five international championships thus far, including the FIBA Asia Championship in Nagasaki, Japan in August and in the 33rd William Jones International Basketball Tournament in Chinese Taipei in July.
The Times Of India