Rachael Pashmeena Chandra takes keen interest in sports generally but her passion is netball.
She played for the University of Auckland Club for a number of years in the Auckland Netball League.
Being a South Indian, she has also played in the Sangam Tournaments in New Zealand, Fiji and Australia. Her team, North Harbour Sangam, won the Sangam World Cup in Sydney in November 2011.
Being the Master of Ceremonies at the Indian Newslink Indian Sports Awards Presentation Ceremony and Dinner is an honour for Rachael, as she strongly believes that sporting achievements should be recognised to encourage people to take more interest in sports.
She said sports are a way of focusing energy on something positive. It at the same time teaches a lot of life skills such as discipline, hard work, team spirit, commitment and being able to work together by contributing your individual best.
“There are some great sporting achievers in our community and they need to be recognised. What they have achieved comes through a lot of hard work, sacrifice and commitment. Also, the drive to make it to the top in a very competitive environment. We need to recognise these individuals so that they are an inspiration to our younger generation,” she said.
Quoting (former World Cup Alpine Ski Racer) Jean Claude Killy, she said, “The best and fastest way to learn a sport is to imitate a champion.”
Rachael is a solicitor in a central Auckland law firm.