Reprinted from KAILA, Fiji's weekly paper for young stars

                                                                                                            Article by Aaron Kolinisau
"Plan your work and work your plan"
            This is the motto of 14-year-old basketball player Nandika Singh, who is the only Indo-Fijian to have made the cut for the U20 basketball training squad to the Guam Games this year.
            The fourth former of Yat Sen Secondary School is also the youngest in the squad.
            She is part of the 43-member development squad being coached by former FIBA Oceania Development Officer, Stuart Manwaring.
            Nandika hopes to represent her country come October.
            "I just love basketball and though people might be wondering about how I balance it with my studies the simple answer to that is managing time wisely", said Nandika.
            Interestingly, Nandika never played basketball until last year.  It was largely because of her sister Priya's encouragement.
            She decided to join her school's under-15 basketball team last year.
            Upon discovering her knack for playing, she decided to join the Fiji women's basketball development squad which included Fiji reps Letava Whippy and Renata Cinavilakeba.
            "At first I found it difficult because I wasn't that fit but after consistently training I managed to overcome that," laughs Nandika.
            Nandika said her schedule involved a lot of training and sacrifice.
            Training means rising as early as 4.30am three days in the week to prepare for one hour drills at 5.30am.
            It's a sacrifice that Nandika is more than willing to make in order to excel and win a spot in the national team.  

            She also hopes to emulate the skills and sportsmanship of basketball legend Michael Jordan, her favourite sportsman.