Durban golf whiz takes on the world
Durban — A small girl with a big swing has taken the golfing world by storm and racked up a trophy count many would envy.
Durban’s Shreya Naidoo, who turned nine on Wednesday, is preparing to compete against the best in the world when she jets off to Northern Ireland this week.
Shreya will be taking part in the 2024 Champion of Champions World Championship, which takes place at the Lough Erne Resort from July 23 to 25.
“I’m excited and I look forward to it. Golf makes me feel happy,” says the Grade 3 pupil.
Only the best junior golfers from 50 countries will compete. Shreya, who has been playing competitive golf since last year, already has more than 30 trophies and awards to her name.
Last year, she won the Junior Africa Challenge and went on to compete in the US Kids UAE international tournament, where she finished in the top five. In addition, she also participated in the Big 5 SA Open and was placed second internationally. And she won the SA Kids Player of the Year for girls eight years of age and under.
While she might be quiet and shy, once she steps onto a golf course she becomes uber-focused, playing with a maturity far beyond her years.
Shreya’s mom, Reshmika Naidoo, says her daughter fell in love with the sport when she accompanied her dad to the driving range a few times.
“She just picked up the club and started hitting the ball and loved it.”
Naidoo says Shreya wanted to take lessons and eventually she outshone her dad, who now plays a supporting role in her development.
“Her coach at the Mount Edgecombe driving range told us she’s now ready for competitive golf,” Naidoo says. At the time, she had only been training for a few weeks. Now, a year and a half later, she has made a name for herself at home and abroad.
Shreya played her first tournament at the Umhlali Golf Court in January last year, and won in the girls seven to-eight-year category. Since then she has been on a winning streak, netting dozens of prizes.
Her dad, Thegeshlin, says their schedules now revolve around golf and most weekends are taken up by tournaments at home or in Gauteng. Shreya has also travelled internationally to compete. Thegeshlin says Shreya is very driven and sets her own pace.
In addition, she excels in other sports such as tennis and soccer, which she plays at school. Shreya has also distinguished herself academically.
She says sometimes when she is nervous it affects her game, but she knows how to deal with this.
“I tell myself just worry about yourself, and not worry about everybody else. Just play your own game. Don't worry about your competitors.”
Shreya’s sister Keyura, 5, has also developed a passion for the sport, much to the relief of their mom, who says given that their lives now revolve around golf it would have been difficult if she wasn’t into it.
And while most children would prefer playing with their friends or their electronic devices, Shreya loves watching golf on TV.
“When I watch it I feel like I want to play,” says Shreya, who says it’s a great way to pick up tips along the way.
“Professional people also make mistakes,” she says.
Her golfing hero is former world number one, Rory McIlroy. And given that she is heading to his country next week, hopefully she’ll get a chance to watch him play.
Sunday Tribune