GP Junior (Jun-July 18) Digital (June-July 18) | Page 37

Interview
I
n May the Sony Ten Golf HD
channel aired a documentary
titled A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB.
The ſ lm featured Pratima, a girl
raised in a maintenance shed behind
the 3rd hole of the Royal Nepal
Golf Course, tries to become the
ſ rst female golf pro in her country.
Pratima is 17. She comes from
poverty but has become a star in
Nepal. Her parents work on the golf
course where they still live in the
maintenance shed.
GolfPlus catches up with Nepal’s
No.1 female golfer.
A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB
THE STORY OF LITTLE
PRATIMA
It has been dif¿ cult to cope during the
exam days especially but I have somehow
managed to strike a balance.
GPJ: Who has been your biggest
inƀ uence?
PS: My parents. My mom has always been
the biggest support for me.
GPJ: Who is your role model?
PS: My coach Sachin Bhattarai because he
is like my guardian.
Pratima with Tiger Woods
GPJ: Who prompted you to take up golf?
PS: I used to see many players playing
golf and I used to be all alone in the golf
course. I was 11 years at that time when the
president of Nepal Golf Association asked
me to join a junior champ. When I won the
chipping competition and tournaments I
felt that I could do well in golf.
GPJ: How do you manage your time
between golf and studies?
PS: It was quite dif¿ cult to manage due
to the school timings. After coming back
home from school at around 4:30 PM, I
used to go on the golf range and practice.
My dad wanted me to concentrate more on
studies and rather play golf at that time.
Pratima with her parents at the maintenance shed on the RNGC
GPJ: Tell us about the documentary
which was aired recently.
PS: It was shot in the US. I was so excited
at the time of the shoot. Everyone was
watching me which actually made me
really nervous. But after the completion
when I was saw the whole 25 minutes
documentary for the ¿ rst time and I got
really emotional.
GPJ: What are your future plans? GPJ: How does it feel to be amongst
the inspiring young player representing
Nepal?
PS: I want to be the only professional
golfer from Nepal and to participate in
Olympics and also at the IJGA. PS: Everyone is watching and following
me. It is really proud but challenging at the
same time.
GPJ: Your advice to other Junior
Golfers. Awards and Achievements
PS: In Nepal everyone felt that golf is a
very expensive game and everyone cannot
afford. But in reality it’s not only for the
rich. If you have talent and the passion
anybody can do anything. We just need
our strength and support for our passion
will follow.
GPJ: Fitness is really important. Tell us
about your day-to-day ſ tness regime.
PS: Fitness is really important in every
sport. I usually do running, push-ups and
Golf stretching for 1.5 hours the morning.
Faldo series in Nepal (2013, 2015 and 2017)
NGA Golf Tournament
Shikhar Insurance Golf Tournament
Lumbini Insurance Golf Tournament
Solti Crown Plaza Golf Tournament
Nepal Olympic Golf Tournament
Laxmi Bank Golf Tournament
VCGA Golf Tournament
Carlsberg Golf Tournament
CMS Golf Tournament
Naya Patrika Golf Tournament
RNGC Anniversary Golf Tournament
Hyundai Cup Golf Tournament
GolfPlus Junior June-July 2018
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