In this blog “The New Player in the Team Summary“, we will be exploring the significance of the “new player” in a team and how their arrival can impact the dynamics, strategies, and overall performance of the entire team. Read More Class 10 English Summaries.
The New Player in the Team Summary
The New Player in the Team Difficult Word Meanings
The New Player in the Team Summary in English
“Mamta, I want you to start practising your game seriously from today. I am taking you in the basketball team.”
These words of the basketball coach surprised everyone. Selections had been going on for the school’s basketball team, and the coach had chosen Mamta, who had joined the school only a month before.
Mamta could not believe her ears. She wanted to play basketball since she joined the school, but none of the girls in her class was ready to teach her. In fact, some of the girls in the team even laughed at her when they heard that the previous school in which she had studied did not even have a basketball court.
Mamta had been studying in a small school in the nearby town till then, as her parents could not afford to send her to any of the public schools in the city. It was only because of the scholarship she had won from a trust that it had been possible for her to join this reputed convent school. Being away from home, in a hostel, she yearned for some friends, but till now most of the girls had refused to accept a small-town girl as their friend. Most of the girls in the school came from rich families. They treated her as an unwelcome guest who was too low in status by their standards.
“Sir, she has never played basketball before. How can you take her in the team ?” their captain, Saba complained.
“Don’t be mean, Saba. There is always a first time for every one. Can’t you see how good her passes are? And physically she is fitter than any of you,” the physical education teachers admonished Saba.
“Oh, no! Now we can forget all about winning the trophy in the inter-school basketball championship this year,” grumbled Reema, the vice-captain of the team.
The other girls in her group also made faces to show their displeasure. What these girls did not know was that if anyone told Mamta she could not do a certain thing, she accepted it as a challenge and never rested till she had proved them wrong.
The coach had heard Reema and said, “Have you been able to win the trophy even once since you started playing? Maybe this year you will at last win because of Mamta.”
Mamta was touched by that remark. She silently thanked the coach for his support and made up her mind to be so good at the game that the team would feel incomplete without her.
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She thought of the famous words that her mother often repeated to her, ‘Practice makes a man perfect’. So she started using all her free time in practising basketball. She was thankful that the coach was helping her in every way. She kept perfecting her passes and her techniques with firm determination. Even the snide remarks from the teammates made her more resolute.
Like the time when she dropped a pass and Hema said, “Do you have butter fingers that you cannot even hold the ball properly?” or when Reema said, “Don’t try to act nice on the court. It won’t get you anywhere. You have to be a fighter to play this game and always be on the offensive. Delicate girls like you have no place on the court.” Little did the girls realize that these remarks really bought out the fighter in her.
One month later, the school organized the annual sports meet. Mamta wanted to participate in the 400 metre race. She was a fast runner. She used to walk long distances in her town. That had helped her develop strong leg muscles and good stamina. On top of that she was also tall for her age. She would be competing against the school champion, who had been winning the race for the past three years. Most girls laughed at her wish to win the race. After all, Mamta had never before participated in a race. But she believed in herself. She knew she could run well. It was just a matter of rigorous practice. And she wanted to win for a very strong reason. She felt that winning against the school champion would also help her somehow in her basketball game. So she started concentrating on her speed when she exercised in the morning.
The day of the race downed. It turned out to be a close race. Towards the end Mamta caught up with the champion. Her eyes were fixed at the finishing line. Like Arjuna in the Mahabharata aiming at the fish’s eye, Mamta too could see nothing else. And in the end she did win, though by a couple of seconds only. It was so unexpected that there was a moment’s silence all around as she crossed the finishing line. Even the judges on the field were surprised that someone looking so frail and delicate could run so fast. There was a lot of excitement on the field before Mamta was announced the winner.
The previous year’s champion showed that she was a true sportsperson; she hugged Mamta and congratulated her. Then, as Mamta received her prize, she also got a standing ovation. It had taken Mamta just a few moments on the field to become a celebrity. The race changed Mamta’s image in the school. She became very popular and even her teammates were now less hostile towards her. This gave a massive boost to her confidence. Now Mamta wanted to play a major role in the match and win the inter-school trophy for her school more than anything else.
She kept practising hard. She proved to be excellent with passes and good at offence and defence. Being a fast runner, she could easily dodge her opponents and it sometimes looked as if she was flying with the ball. Before anyone could catch up with her, she would have reached the basket. And her shots too were perfect most of the time.
Finally, the inter-school basketball competition started. In all, ten teams were participating in the competition. Mamta’s school had never before even reached the semi-finals. So this year the girls were desperate to win.
Their team went up to the finals. Mamta had a big role in the team reaching the finals. Her shots never missed and being five feet six inches tall, she could easily pass the ball to whoever she wished to, and grab it easily when it was meant for someone else. With every game they won, her teammates respected her more than before. Without her, they would have found it very difficult to reach the finals.
In the finals, they were up against the city champions. The game finished with equal points for both the teams. So both the teams got three free shots each. The opponents were able to score only one shot out of three. From her team, Mamta was chosen to hook the ball. She had to score at least two baskets to win. All eyes were fixed on her.
She bounced the ball nervously, knowing fully well the responsibility she carried on her shoulders. Suddenly, she remembered Reema’s words the day she was chosen for the team. ‘Now we can forget all about winning the trophy in the inter-school basketball championship this year. Those words set her on fire again. This was her chance to show everyone how wrong they were. She made her shot, and it was a perfect basket. There was a loud applause from the audience. Both the teams were again equal.
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But could she do it again? There was deafening silence in the field in anticipation of her shot. It was as if no one even dared to breathe. Mamta bent her legs, raised the ball into position, and at last took the shot. She felt tears streaming down her face as the ball looped through the basket and bounced on the ground. Their team had made history. They had been participating in the competition for long, but it was the first time that they had reached the finals and had won it too.
Mamta’s teammates came running from all around and hugged her. Everyone was shouting and dancing at the same time. There was cheering all around.
In the noise she heard Saba say, “I will never again prejudge people; I hope you can forgive me.”
Reema too joined Saba and apologized to Mamta.
Mamta clasped their hands and said, “Finally, I feel as if I belong here.”
Just then their coach came forward to ‘congratulate them. “Mamta, you did not let me down. Thank you,” he said.
“No, sir, I should be thanking you. Had you not shown faith in me the day you chose me, I would never have even learnt the game,” Mamta said, wiping her tears of happiness.
She had really become indispensable for the team, all because of her determination and hardwork.