Manisha Kaprekar Dange, Central Railways basketball team player and coach talks about managing multiple roles on & off the field and changing face of women basketball in India.

by Sportspreps | Feb 04,2021

Namaste Everyone! I am Rishabh Gupta from SportsPreps and today we have with us basketball player Manisha Kaprekar Dange who plays for Railways as a Guard.

 

Rishabh Gupta: How are you?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Very fine.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us about yourself. When and where were you born? Who’s there in your family?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: I was born and brought up in Mumbai. I live in Thane. I was born on 8 December 1979. In my family, I have my husband and my in-laws.

 

Rishabh Gupta: So tell us how and when you started playing Basketball.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: I started playing basketball in Second standard. There is a small club near my house which has a mud court. They had kho-kho, basketball and other basic games. I joined it for kho-kho but the thing is in kho-kho your height doesn’t increase. My parents put me in basketball to increase my height. There is Milind Apte sir, under who I trained for basketball.

 

Rishabh Gupta: How did you think that you can make a career in basketball as it is not a popular sport?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Actually it was not popular at that time but now it is. When I started playing basketball my parents thought that I could make a career in this as they never pressured me to score certain marks in academics. They wanted me to pass out and move forward as they thought my focus is in sports and on basketball.

I used to see the seniors in my club and get inspired by them, so I thought that I could make a career in it.

 

Rishabh Gupta: When did you think about making a career in it?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Actually I have been selected quite late in it. I played Under-16 Nationals in my last year(of age 16) while others play at the age of 13-14. When the first match of Nationals happened for me, I realised handwork pays off. So I realised my game is good and I can carry on.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Are you still part of the basketball team?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Yes, I am playing right now and have been doing it for 20 years. I am part of Central Railway team and also the team coach.

 

Rishabh Gupta: And are you playing as a point Guard?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: I am a shooter. When you have experience, you learn everything.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us about your training routine.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Should I tell you about the Covid times or normal times?

 

Rishabh Gupta: Normal.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: We have office in the morning from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Then we have our practice at 2pm to 4pm at Parel Ground then we leave for home.

 

Rishabh Gupta: So this routine happens seven days a week?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Yes, completely. There is never a break.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Are there any particular exercises you focus on as basketball is a sport where muscles aren’t used much?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: The thing is from childhood, fitness has been my focus. I make sure I do some exercise everyday and even in the times of Corona, I work on my fitness for 2-3 hours. So if your fitness level is good, you can prolong your career to age of 40-45 years.

 

Rishabh Gupta: How is your diet like?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Hereditary, I am not going to get fat as my parents are also thin. I eat fatty food but I don’t put on fat. Protein, nutrition, carbohydrate…everything comes in it. We consult the dietician on our diet.

 

Rishabh Gupta: So you consult your dietician in off season and on-season?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Yes

 

Rishabh Gupta: Does your dietician tells you to eat protein more and cut down on carbs?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: What happens is…its different for every person. Everyone has different body capacity so diet will depend upon the team player’s body. Dietician tells me to eat everything because my body needs it.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us what changes have happened in your training during Corona.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: We are not even able to go on the Basketball Court. This is first time its happening that all the players are not able to go on the Court but it doesn’t mean that we are not doing are exercises. At home, whatever space we have or on terrace, we exercise for 2-3 hours.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Please tell us what kind of equipments do you use for training/practicing.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: The thing is there are lots of limitation. Whatever equipments are there at home we are exercising accordingly. We don’t have the basketball and space is also limited. I exercise on the terrace where you can’t run faster. If you have the ball, you can’t dribble. So we run for 15-20 minutes, do 500 skipping, then sit-ups, dips, core, strengthening exercise. I have dumbbells and I take them upstairs to workout.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Who all are part of the support staff of the central railway team and if you could share there names?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: The thing is I am the coach of the team and I am doing everything. We have ten players and few assistant coaches.

 

Rishabh Gupta: And what about…dieticians, physio?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: No, when we have division matches we appoint Physios. During Corona, I kept lectures for the team on zoom for dietician, physio and psychologist as it helps increase knowledge of players. So they are all connected to the team.

 

Rishabh Gupta: You are a team player and a coach as well. Doesn’t this create a conflict of interest?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: No, I don’t think anything like that has happened. I have an experience of 20 years in Railways and 30 years playing Basketball. Actually, who I have played with are still in the team so they know me. The thing with playing is when team needs me I have to play. I don’t get on the court for 40-45 minutes but I have less players in my team. There are injured players. So I go in for 5-10 minutes and come back. So experience counts and they know it.

 

Rishabh Gupta: It doesn’t create any problems with your work?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: No, when I am on the court with them I am their coach. I do my fitness separately at home, there is a ground nearby in a school where I do my fitness and shooting (basketball).

 

Rishabh Gupta: That is fine but a player needs a coach to observe his/her performance.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: If you see in a professional team there is nothing like that. There are experienced players and coach takes advice from them also. The thing is I have to play because players are less. But in my case there hasn’t been any kind of conflict.

 

Rishabh Gupta: So you are a basketball player and you also work as the coach. Do you do anything apart from this on professional or academic front?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: In 2016-17 batch, I got Diploma in Coaching from NIS (National Institute of Sports), Patiala. I also did a dietician course in between.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Basketball is not a popular sport in India. So how difficult it is for a girl to pursue it as a career and get support from their family, please tell us given you have such a long experience and you have known your team mates?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: The things is to become a part of a professional team, you have to work hard. Its not like you won a medal and you became a part. You have to work hard later after becoming a part of the team. So balancing family with it is a very big thing. We stay in Mumbai so kids, who come from outside in our team do face problems with house and food. So you have to fight and learn. These are life lessons afterall.

So I tell kids that you don’t have to be satisfied by only one medal, you have to perform even after joining Railways. There are many who think that after joining Railways and being there for two years, you get the job and nobody can fire you. So this should not happen. Girls are strong and they can manage everything.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Sports is not seen as a career, though things are improving but still earning is in doubt. What can government do to improve Basketball’s popularity?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: The problem is there are very few professional teams for girls/women. There are plenty of teams for men. Government has to increase vacancies for girls. Right now Railway, Kerala Police, Kerala Electricity board are ones to provide jobs. Else there are no jobs for women. So I believe there is a need to increase number of professional teams for women and provide them jobs. There are ONGC, IOB and banks where women should get jobs.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Nothing is there on a state level?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Actually it is happening in Bhilai which is in Chhattisgarh. There is a steel plant where this happens. Rajesh Patel sir has recruited many players over there. It’s a state government job. So I feel these things should happen in every state.

 

Rishabh Gupta: So these jobs don’t cause any hinderance in the performance of a sports player?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: No, like our job is there. If you are hired on a sports quota, there is a five year bond according to which you have to play for five years for the team. And if you don’t perform well during screening there is a punishment.

 

Rishabh Gupta: There is Gold Quest which sponsors Olympic players and help them with equipment, psychologists etc. Are there any private organisations who are helping basketball players?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: There is NBA Academy which is doing this. If a player is good, they call them and provide them with everything. They send them out of India for training with other teams, gain experience, get education. There are many such academies but players need to show interest.

 

Rishabh Gupta: So these players which are sent by NBA out of India, can they come back to play for India or they are only going to play for NBA?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: No, they are being sent to play for India.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us about your career. What kind of problems you had to face during your 30 year career?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Its been 20 years playing for Railway though I started playing when I was in Second standard. I have struggled a lot in this field and all my achievements have come late. My first India game happened in 2006..sorry 2005. Means I was doing senior India camp since 1999, I got many rejections as there were many players senior to me. But you should never lose hope. If you are working hard and are dedicated I believe even god helps you.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Could you elaborate what kind of problems they were such as financial?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: No, Financial problems occur in everyone’s life then there are injuries. You are playing, doing camps. Before, we didn’t have equipments or physios. We used to practice on our own. If we injure ourself, we couldn’t rehab(recover) properly like now in 2-3 months player can comeback on court. I am talking about 25 years ago. Then after that I received rejections. The state award also came late. So things have happened late but whatever has happened is an achievement.

 

Rishabh Gupta: How many tournaments takes place nationally and at Railway level?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: At Railway level, many all India tournaments take place in various states.

Talking about nationals there is Youth, Junior and Senior Nationals, Federation Cup, National Games. But Federation cup and Nationals Games don’t happen regularly. National Games happen every two years.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Do these tournaments happen every time of the year or are there particular months/seasons when they happen?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: In South, the tournaments take place in summers. Senior Nationals happens in December. Junior National happens before Senior Nationals, around August. So tournaments happen all year round.

 

Rishabh Gupta: How much Basketball Federation of India involvement is there in a players life? How does it help them?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Current federation is good. They are giving lots of facilities. They are setting up 6 months camps providing accommodation, food, bringing in good coaches etc. So I believe they are contributing a lot towards a player.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Do they help players financially as well?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Yes they do. There was a grading system A-grade, B-grade paying them 60 thousand, 30 thousand, 40 thousand. Now they have closed it. But they give plenty of facilities and DA when they do camps.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us who has been your inspiration or role model?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: My first inspiration are my parents because even in difficult situations they persevere. In failure, they stand with us then we achieve success.

Second, in this field I have many seniors who I look up-to, in Maharashtra and other states. One who plays with me is Anju Lakhra, though she is junior to me but she has played for India more than I have and she was with me in Railways. Then there is player by name of Anita, who despite many injuries has come back and is practicing. She has two kids but she is still on the field. One is Aparna Ghosh, a very senior player and Dhyanchand Awardee and other is Arnika Gujar, Mahrashtrian player of my age who has played for India and is a FIBA Instructor now. So all these people are an inspiration for me.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us about your most memorable win?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: In Asian Basketball Championship 2013 held in Doha, Qatar; India beat South Korea and received a Gold which was a dream come true for us. A relief that though late but India finally won a gold.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us about your most memorable loss and what you learnt from it?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: In Hyderabad Nationals 2002, Railways team lost to Delhi after a long time. I joined Railways in 2001 and in my second year only we lost to them which I can never forget. We learn from loss as well as wins so I believe we realised that we need to work harder. Then next year we recovered well and won many games.

 

Rishabh: Whats your Favourite shot?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Actually, JumpShot. From childhood I have practiced a lot. When I used to train at the club in my childhood, Milind Sir got my basics right. I used to practice this shot a lot and my action is similar to how men throw this shot. So, JumpShot!

 

Rishabh Gupta: If not a basketball player, then what would you have been?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: If not a basketball player then I would have been a singer. I have given three exams of classical music. And I love playing instruments.

 

Rishabh Gupta: What talent do you have apart from Basketball which nobody knows about?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Oh God! (laughs) I have done nothing apart from Basketball in my life. I think playing basketball is the only talent I have.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us which is your favourite Sports film.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: I don’t watch many sports film. I am pet lover and I have pets at my home. So related to pets, Marley & Me! I love all kinds of animals. I have cats, dogs and many others at home.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Tell us what’s your future plan related to basketball as a coach and as a player.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: I have just started coaching and its been two years. I used to coach before but professionally, its been two years coaching Central and Indian Railways. For future, how my experience has been I would love to share it with youngsters or a team. And maybe I might open an academy so I am preparing for that too.

 

Rishabh Gupta: So as a player how long do you see yourself playing?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: That depends upon my fitness and almighty’s grace. It’s not like I have to play now. As I said my team is short on players and recruitment is not happening that’s the reason I have to play. I am happy coaching. There are good junior players who I am coaching so playing is not my focus.

 

Rishabh Gupta: In which future tournaments can we see you in?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Its difficult now(laughs)! Because I have played many tournaments and rest is also important. So let’s see if god wants and health is good, I might play National Games.

 

Rishabh Gupta: There are many school kids who are good at basketball and want to pursue it as a career. What will be your words of encouragement for them?

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: First I would like to tell kids that sports is good as it helps your health and mind. It’s not like you have to leave academics to do well in sports. Academics is also important. Talking about sports and basketball, you have to work hard from early years and not take things for granted. Even if failure comes in your path, you take that as a lesson and move forward. You will get nothing less and everything will happen for good.

 

Rishabh Gupta: Manishaji we loved talking to you. Thanks for giving us your valuable time.

Manisha Kaprekar Dange: Thank you so much to you too. All the best! You are doing a very good job. Keep encouraging players. Thank you!