Lakshmi Shruti Settipalli a student of Class 12 has already achieved at the age of 16 what many young people perhaps only daydream about. She has played all over the world, tournaments like U.S Open, Australia Open, Finland Open, Slovakia Open and the Swiss Open

She started playing squash at the age 13 and in last three years she has managed to raise her world ranking to 162. She plans to raise it up higher next year, hoping to make her way into the top. 50.

Playing a sport was not part of the game plan at all. "I was a very lazy child. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I'd be a professional player," she says, realising that 13 was quite a late age at which to start. "There is no advantage or disadvantage. But my family deserves most of the credit for inspiring me and standing by me through it all," she says. "A dad who is encouraging, a mother who is my pillar of support, I am truly blessed to have them by my side," she adds.

Managing her life as a student and her professional career in squash is a tightrope walk. "It is hardest balance ever. But I've been blessed with an understanding school, supportive teachers who have helped me throughout. I do miss classes, but I have always made sure that I make up the schoolwork because I do love my studies. Economics is a subject I really like, but apart from my professional career, I would like to learn psychology. Playing squash helps me focus," Lakshmi says.

She would like to strive to the best of her abilities over the next five years "and give back to the sport that I love. The squash scene has been improving lately, but it still doesn't have the funds or awareness that it deserves. As for my professional career, I have taken part in the US Open, British Open, Swiss Open, and have also been playing pro tournaments in Australia. I want to make my way into the top 50 within a year from now," Lakshmi says, on a positive note.