Sports and games are a part of childhood. But they are also a big part of character building. That’s what shines through Ananya Kamboj’s debut writing journey.T his young author travels from Mohali in Punjab, to Russia learning the language of friendship and football. She goes with stars in her eyes and dreams in her heart and comes back to spread hope. While reading about successful young goodwill ambassadors, she learns about the common thread they shared.
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What’s interesting is Ananya embodies all this and more.
My Journey from Mohali to St.Petersburg by Ananya Kamboj: Book Summary
The article she submitted for F4F was on the extraordinary social work of Mr. Gurmangal Dass Sony who took it upon himself to wipe out the scrounge of drug addiction among youths. A young author, writing about a once in a lifetime experience made me curious. It’s not easy to travel away from family and learn from it. That’s what Ananya Kamboj does. The Football for Friendship programme was something she wanted to participate in. She got a chance while sharing the story of an inspiring man who fights against drug abuse. The Youth Football club Rurka Kalan in Chandigarh, Mr.Gurmangal Dass Soni, and Ananya’s story makes a deep impact. Surprisingly insightful book for an author of her age.
What are the values Football and sports can teach?
- Equality
- Fairness
- Health
- Peace
- Devotion
- Victory
- Traditions
- Honour
Ananya tells us about the importance of the spirit of teamwork. She talks about how football is a complete exercise involving running, jogging, aerobics and endurance tests. She talks about how during the F4F programme she got to meet young journalists from 64 countries. How they played together and laughed together.
Book Review
Genre: Nonfiction. Written like a memoir.
What I liked best
The honest and simple way this girl has summed up the problems plaguing the world and her insights about a possible way to help the youth walk on the correct path.
What was my favorite insight from the book?
Ananya talks about Honour. Honouring rules, teammates, and opponents are an important part of any St.Petersburg important in life. The discipline and lessons of sports are character building and that what Ananya’ explains through her book.
Who should you gift this to?
A book like this is a must read for children, young adults and parents, to understand why extracurricular activities including sports are much-needed for a better future.Recommended for self developement.
What could be even better?
A young author always needs to be celebrated. Starting this journey at a tender age of thirteen is not easy.I would have loved to know how she managed her school work, with this responsibility. How did she cope without her family in Petersburg? After all, thirteen is young!
Get the book here
About the Author
Ananya Kamboj is thirteen.S he is born and brought up in Mohali, Punjab. Her hobbies are reading, writing and playing football. Books open up a whole new world for her .and she reads whenever she has time. Ananya’s favorite book is Matilda by Roald Dahl. Ananya’s inspiration behind her book is her parents. She aspires to be a journalist.
Book Blurb
My Journey from Mohali to St. Petersburg is the reminiscence of young Ananya Kamboj’s eight eventful days spent in St. Petersburg, Russia for the Football for Friendship (F4F) programme, an international children’s social programme that aims to promote youth sports and foster tolerance and respect toward other cultures and ethnicities. Once back, she decided to pen down her journey.
What a year 2017 was! Ananya decided to share about the things she learned and experienced in Russia as well as about the importance of football, particularly in countries like India.Come join Ananya’s journey from Mohali to St. Petersburg. She believes that the “powerful lessons and insights” in the book that she has shared are lessons for all of us.
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Heartiest congratulations to budding author, star Ananya! Way to go girl! Its very proud to see a young talent spread heading her own path with great confidence, which rare for age!
Thank you Amrita for sharing the information.
Wow! Writing on such an intense topic like this at such a tender age is quite an achievement. Kudos to her!
She has been doing really great and at such a tender age. Football is a great game and it indeed brings the world closer.
True.
Glad to see she decided to write her story as this would encourage youngsters to go after their dreams
The book has a very nice topic. A teenager penning a book regarding sports is first of all quite inspiring. Her honest writing will definitely vet her immense success
Its look like great journey of her & how the football journey teach & curved her life.
Great teamwork leads to success. This book is probably the best example.
Any sport teaches discipline and value of sportsmanship. As the players from different countries had same goals and dreams, they shared close bond irrespective of cultures and countries. The bond that tied them together was their love for Football. I would love to gift this to my brother.
This looks like an inspiring read. I have a sports background and can vouch for the values any sports teaches. Be it football or boxing or athletics. Will surely give this a read.
All I can say is just book looks like a simple very inspirational which is a must for every child and it has thrown light on the importance of extra curricular activities in school .
This looks like a simple but beautiful book!
As you said, Football teaches a lot about values, teamspirit and sportsmanship… This books looks quite good!