Basketball: Shireen Limaye sets her sights on WNBA

The word ‘versatile’ sums up Shireen Limaye. Though she eats, breathes, walks, talks and plays basketball, the 16-year-old is a hoopster with a difference.

Shireen, who is the youngest member of the national side, has also made a mark in other sports. She was a part of India’s first-ever women’s netball squad which took part in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last year. Impressed by her shooting skills, the president of the Netball Federation of India, Gurbir Singh, wanted her to be part of the squad.

Prior to that, Shireen was also a champion in cue sports. Three years ago, she was ranked No 1 in the U-19 and U-21 categories in snooker. After finishing second in the junior category at the National Billiards & Snooker Championship in Indore in 2008, Shireen was selected to represent the country (U-21) at the world championships. However, she could not take part due to her first ‘love’ (read basketball) and related commitments. The Pune girl also held the third rank (U-19) in billiards.

Her mother, Suvarna Limaye, is a former national basketballer. In fact, her mom was her first coach. Shireen first played for India at the FIBA Asia U-16 Championship in Pune in 2009 and also adjudged the Best ‘Bounder in Asia that year. “My mother is my idol. Besides her, I also adore Michael Jordon. I want to play like him one day,” Shireen told DNA on Sunday. She was present at the HP-NBA Jam held at a mall in the city.

Having played for Maharashtra for more than nine years now besides representing the Indian team, Shireen’s goal now is to make the cut in WNBA. “My only aim is to play for the WNBA. I’m quite confident I will make the cut in two or three years. And with American coaches at out disposal, the task has become easier for me,” she added.