Gold medalist Lavanya Gurjar is a Class 9 student from Udaipur, who brilliantly balances academics and sports, excelling in both basketball and netball at district and state levels. Guided by her coaches and supported by her mother, she pursues her passion with discipline and dedication, and with a dream to make her country proud. She encourages young stars to explore sports, stay active, and grow both mentally and physically.

The Initiation

Lavanya Gurjar, a bright and energetic student of Class 9 at Central Academy, Sector-3, Udaipur, is not only dedicated to her studies but also deeply passionate about sports. Her career in Basketball began when she was in sixth grade, where her talent quickly shone through as she advanced to the district level. Continuing her athletic pursuit, Lavanya took up Netball in ninth grade and showcased her skills with such determination that she soon represented her school in the sport at the state level. Her growing achievements reflect her discipline, enthusiasm, and love for the game.

Gurus & Role Models

Lavanya practices netball under the guidance of her senior coach, Harshwardhan Singh, and her junior coaches, Saloni and Bhumi, at Central Academy School. She shares that all her coaches constantly support and motivate her to perform better in sports and to continue improving her game in netball. When it comes to inspirations, Lavanya says she doesn’t have a particular role model. Instead, she believes in learning from everyone, adopting the good qualities she observes in others and trying to imbibe them in herself. However, she fondly mentions one person who has been her biggest source of strength — her mother. Her mother has always stood by her side, encouraging her to explore different sports and motivating her to pursue the one she feels most passionate about. Lavanya credits much of her confidence and success to her mother’s unwavering support and belief in her abilities.

The Talent

Lavanya shares that Netball is a unique blend of Handball and Basketball. The game consists of seven positions, and Lavanya proudly plays as the Goal Shooter for her team. Unlike basketball, dribbling is not allowed in netball — instead, players must rely entirely on quick and accurate passing to move the ball across the court. Lavanya finds this dynamic style of play both challenging and exciting, as it closely resembles basketball yet demands greater teamwork and precision.

Achievements

Netball Champ Lavanya’s sporting career is marked by both passion and perseverance. She first showcased her talent in basketball, representing her school at the district level. Later, she transitioned to netball, where her dedication paid off as she clinched a gold medal at the district level. Her growing excellence earned her a spot in the state-level netball tournament held in Sawai Madhopur, where she proudly represented her school and city. Beyond sports, Lavanya’s achievements extend to other fields as well — she earned a certificate in self-defence training, reflecting her confidence and discipline. Academically too, she has always been a bright student and was the school topper up to the 4th grade. Her journey beautifully balances intellect, skill, and determination.

A Bit More

Lavanya shares that her sports career began with basketball, which she started playing first. Later, her coach introduced her to netball, explaining that it’s quite similar to basketball and that she should give it a try. Curious and enthusiastic, Lavanya explored many sports over time — including badminton, cricket, basketball, netball, and even weightlifting. Through this exploration, she discovered that her true passion lies in basketball and netball, and decided to focus on excelling in these two games. Lavanya shares that she manages to balance both her studies and sports with discipline and focus. During exams, she prioritizes her studies, while during tournaments, her attention shifts entirely to sports practice. In this way, she ensures that neither her academics nor her athletic training is compromised. She further shares that her daily routine is well-structured and full of dedication. Lavanya wakes up early at 5 a.m., begins her day with exercise, and takes proper care of her diet to stay fit and active. After attending school, she goes for her tuition classes in the evening, and later spends around two hours practicing netball and basketball under the guidance of her coaches. Her commitment and time management reflect her determination to excel both on the court and in the classroom. Lavanya shares that there’s a song close to her heart — “Sare Jahan Se Pyari Mere Bharat Ki Beti.” She says this song deeply inspires and motivates her, as it reminds her of her dream to make her country and her parents proud. With passion in her voice, she expresses her heartfelt wish to excel in sports, reach the international level, and one day see the Indian flag shine high because of her achievements. Young Star Lavanya Gurjar shares a heartfelt message for all youngsters — she believes that both studies and sports should go hand in hand. Just as students give importance to their academics, she says, they should also give equal value to sports. According to her, it’s important to explore different sports to discover where one’s true interest lies, and then pursue that sport with full dedication. She strongly believes that education and sports complement each other — while education sharpens the mind, sports helps in maintaining both mental and physical fitness. She encourages every youngster to stay active, keep learning, and strive for balance in both fields to achieve overall growth and success in life.