Nirupama, who became national champion at 14 and was the first Indian woman to win a first round tie in 1998 Australian Open, said her story was about the struggles, hardships and her quest for excellence in the game.
"I wrote it as a motivational book for all those who face similar situations, though things have changed a lot in Indian tennis," she said.
Recalling her struggling days, Nirupama said, "It was not an easy journey for me and I took up the game because I wanted to prove my family that I too can be a player than being a mere ball girl for my brother.
Recalling the financial constraints she had faced, Nirupama said, "I remember the time when I had to opt out out of doubles tie of an ITF tournament in Barcelona because I could not afford to stay in a hotel. Nevertheless, it was a satisfying career and I chose to write after I came out of retirement after a 10-year break," she said.
Nachappa echoed Nirupama's sentiments and said "both of us achieved what we could due to parental support."
Sports, Nachappa said, was a great leveler in life.
"It teaches one to handle emotions, success and defeats and many a life lessons could be learnt in a sports arena."
Nachappa disclosed that she too was writing her own book.
"I am half way through," she said.
C S Sunder Raju, secretary of the KSLTA and joint secretary of the AITA, who was the chief guest along with Ashwini, said, "The achievements of Nirupama, in spite of all odds and that she wrote a book on it, was commendable and truly inspiring.
You’ve reached your limit of 5 free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories
Over 30 subscriber-only stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app