Mumbai (Anil Bedag): After more than two decades in television and digital entertainment, Nivedita Basu has taken on a new challenge. She is now a competitive squash player.
Basu took up squash seriously after the age of 40. Today, she represents Maharashtra on the Masters circuit and is a seeded player in her category. Her journey shows that age does not have to limit new ambitions.
Sport has always been close to Basu. She grew up in a family with a strong sporting background. Her father played tennis and squash. Her mother competed at the national level in table tennis and handball.
As Basu puts it, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Her professional journey, however, began in the entertainment industry. Basu was associated with Balaji Telefilms and worked on several popular television shows. These included Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Kasautii Zindagii Kay.
Over the years, she also moved into leadership roles and entrepreneurship. Her career in entertainment continued to grow, but her interest in sport remained strong.
After turning 40, Basu decided to take squash more seriously. What began as a sporting interest soon became a focused pursuit. She started training with a competitive mindset and set clear goals for herself.
Her efforts have since taken her to the Masters circuit. She now represents Maharashtra and has earned a seeded position in her category. Her progress is a reflection of the discipline and consistency she has brought to the sport.
One of her key achievements came at the National Masters Squash Championship in Kolkata. Basu reached the semifinals, competing against experienced players at the national level.
The result was an important milestone in her journey. It also showed that starting competitive sport later in life can still lead to meaningful achievements.
For Basu, the focus is not on when she started. It is on what she does with the opportunity now.
“I cannot change when I started, but how seriously I take it now is in my hands,” she says.
Her journey has also inspired her to support other women who want to take up sport. Basu has launched the Women & Racquet Sports initiative to encourage more women to participate in racquet sports.
The initiative reflects her belief that women should have opportunities to discover and pursue sporting interests at every stage of life. It also builds on her own experience of returning to sport with a new sense of purpose after 40.
Basu believes that starting something new later in life can be an opportunity rather than a limitation.
“Starting something new after 40 is not too late; it is an opportunity to rediscover yourself,” she says.
Her story is not only about squash. It is also about making space for new goals while continuing an established career. After spending years in television, digital entertainment, leadership and entrepreneurship, Basu has chosen to challenge herself in a completely different field.
Her transition also highlights the value of discipline and consistency. Competitive sport demands regular training, focus and the willingness to keep improving. Basu has embraced these demands as she continues to build her presence on the Masters circuit.
Her journey could also encourage professionals who have set aside personal interests because of work or other responsibilities. It demonstrates that a new pursuit does not have to begin at a young age to become meaningful.
For Basu, squash has become more than a way to stay fit. It is now a competitive goal and a personal challenge. Her progress from taking up the sport seriously after 40 to reaching the semifinals of a National Masters Championship reflects that commitment.
As she continues her journey, Basu is combining her experience from a long career in entertainment with a new identity in sport. Through her performance on the squash court and the Women & Racquet Sports initiative, she is also encouraging others to step forward and pursue their own sporting ambitions.
Her message remains simple: it is never too late to begin again, set a new goal and discover a different side of yourself.
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