Khelo India: Ann Mary Zachariah looking to take Indian basketball forward

Guwahati: Kerala’s Ann Mary Zachariah is emerging as one of the top basketball players here at the Khelo India Youth Games. Playing her first match of the competition against Karnataka on Thursday, the 16-year-old was in prime form, scoring a total of 24 points, the most by a player in her category on the day. Daughter of India’s former international basketball players Zachariah Thomas and Jeena Zachariah, Ann Mary is a product of the Mount Carmel School in Kottayam, Kerala, where she had started playing the sport. “I think what really excited me was the fact that both my parents were former players, and I had seen them play as well. Therefore, I started developing an interest in the sport, and eventually both of them motivated me to take it up at a very young age,” said Ann Mary. The centre player took part in the Khelo India Youth Games in the inaugural edition where her team picked up the gold medal, and was also present in Pune when they had to settle for the bronze medal. However, the youngster, who has represented the Indian U-16 and U-18 teams, is targeting the gold medal again with her state team. “We had a bad match last time around so we couldn’t make it to the finals, but I am really determined to win the gold medal again for Kerala. The Khelo India Youth Games have always given me immense confidence, and I felt I was in the zone against Karnataka, and will be going for victory against Delhi today,” said Zachariah. IANS

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