MUMBAI, SEPT 19: If they were motor cars, the term to describe their current status is - gathering speed.Coincidentally, Amogh Kulkarni and Neha Gangolli are discovering a renewed high in their sport. Both won the second state selection tournament at MIG Cricket Club on Saturday, earning them berths in the state team for the West Zone championships at Bhopal this week.Amogh was among the top four junior players in the country not so long ago - in 1996. Then the career graph of this powerfully-built player spiralled downwards. The reasons for his fall are unclear, and Amogh is averse to talking about the phase. ``I did not play much,'' was all that he offers.Since last year, things have been rosier in comparison. He shifted residence from Thane to Vile Parle. He has also changed his coach - from Shrikant Vad in Thane to Uday Pawar in Andheri.Amogh has praise for Pawar. ``He is the best coach, in my opinion. I have no problem in motivation right now. I am feeling really good,'' says Amogh, a20-year-old player in his final year at Joshi Bedekar.For a player who has turned out only in doubles in the one previous Inter-State championships, he is not too excited about being the third singles in the state's defence of the West Zone title. ``There is still the state championships. I have to do well in that tournament to make it to the state team and only then can I feel free,'' he said.For Neha, it was jaundice that laid her low last year, after a high two years ago, when she was the fifth-ranked junior in India.The 18-year-old first year HR Commerce student was unseeded in the first state selection tournament. But after her victory at NSCI, she was seeded top at the MIG event. Now she is expected to lead the state's challenge, in the absence of Manjusha Kanwar, who will represent her employers PSCB.``I am able to win matches without much difficulty now. It was tough coming from the illness. I had to mentally ship-shape myself. Fellow players were always taking friendly jibes about mysinking ranking. Then there was the problem of able to think right in a given situation. Thankfully it is all coming back now,'' said Neha, who is coached by another international Leroy D'Sa.Neha vouches for Leroy. ``He is very good. I can even discuss personal problems with him. I am happy that I can communicate with him, which is not possible with many coaches.''By design or default, the return of Amogh and Neha have coincided with their entry into the seniors category. They have come of age, and now as the hopes of the state, have much to prove.STATE TEAM FOR ZONALSMEN: Vikrant Patwardhan (capt), Bhushan Akut, Mayur Tawde, Vivek Gautam, Sanket Shetty, Amogh Kulkarni, Vinayak Puthran; BOYS: Vinayak Puthran, Amar Mohite Ajit Phatak, Varun Khanwalkar, Sameer Bhagwat.WOMEN: Neha Gangolli, Krupa Telang, Sim Sim Salaria, Nupura Bhide, Meenakshi Wagh; GIRLS: Neha Gangolli, Kranti Sane, Sim Sim Salaria, Nupura Bhide.MANAGER: Sunder Shetty, Asst Manager:Anil Mahesh
