Junior of the Month: Interview with Prachi Jha

Age/DOB: Age 10, March 31, 1997 Home Club: Palo Alto Table Tennis Club, CA Equipment Racket:                    JOOLA Fejer-Konnerth Allround Light ST Forehand sponge:     Mambo H Backhand sponge:     Snabb Pips

• 2006 Junior Olympics, three Gold Medals (Under 10 Girls, Under 12 Girls Doubles, CA Team Event)
• 2006 Berkeley Open, Under 10 Girls’ Champion, Under 800 Finalist
• 2006 North America Tour, Under 10 Girls’ Champion
• 2007 Concord State Open, Under 10 Girls’ Champion, Under 1100 Champion, Under 1300 semifinalist
• 2007 JOOLA Extravaganza, Under 16 Girls’ Finalist
• ICC Tournaments, Under 16 Girls’ Champion, Under 10 Girls’ Champion
• 2007 U.S Nationals Under 10 Girls’ Semifinalist, Under 1500 Semifinalist
• Recipient of Nate Wasserman Scholarship for Girls Under 10, from U.S Hall Of Fame.
• USATT rating: 1620

When and how did you start playing?
I started playing with my mom and dad recreationally and then enrolled in a TT camp at ICC in April 2005. I really loved the game and soon started playing competitively.

Describe your playing style.
I am an offensive player with short pips on the backhand. I attack from both sides; I take advantage of the short pips that tend to throw people off.

Who are your coaches (past or present)? Who do you practice with?
Pre 2007, my primary coach was Rajul Sheth (ICC). Since 2007, I gone to camps and taken private coaching at Palo Alto Table Tennis Club. Now my coaches are Dennis Davis, Stefan Feth and Nan Li.

I also practice sometimes with my dad and sometimes with my brother Kanak Jha. At times I find players at the ICC club, Palo Alto Table Tennis Club to practice with.

What are you currently working on?
I am working on improving my forehand loop, learning new serves and practicing serve and return.

What are your table tennis goals – short-, intermediate- and long-term?
Short-term: Keep improving my skills and learn new technical skills.

Intermediate-term: Incorporate my new skills in matches and make them part of my game.

Long-term (one year): Make Top Twelve in the Girls’ Cadet Team at USA Nationals in December 2008.

What are your interests outside table tennis?
I love to play Basketball, Wall Ball and watch my brother’s soccer games. I am an avid reader. My favorite authors now are J.K. Rowling and Christopher Paolini.

The burning question: How do you pronounce your last name?
The “J” in my last name is pronounced as a “J” and not as an “H.”  Try JAH and you are pretty close to saying it the right way.

Tell us something really interesting about yourself.
I used to write a lot of poems but now don’t get the time. I love writing stories and have been winning the Young Author’s prize in school the last few years. I love hiking and camping. I want to be a Scientist when I grow up.