It is often believed sports and academics cannot walk up the altar together. For the 18-year-old, it would be unthinkable to sacrifice one for the other. Ami says, ``My parents did ask me a few times to stop playing and concentrate on studies. Every time they said that I would cry and seek permission to play one more tournament.''

During practice at Fatima High School, 15 minutes away from her Ghatkopar (East) residence, the impish girl in her meets the serious player. She steals the ball from others, breaks the queue and upsetsthe rhythm of other girls (only when the coach is not looking) only to ensure she gets as many shies at the basket as possible.

The passion is evident in her game. Last month at Vashi, her team trailed Nagpur by 14 points in the state championships. With ten minutes to go, coach Sukhwinder Singh pinned his hopes on her sharpshooting abilities. And, like many similar instances in the past, Ami did not fail to deliver. ``I played well that day. I scored 12 points and we won the match 60-55.'' Her consistent performances in that tournament (she averaged 10 points) was instrumental in Fatima winning the state championship, and earned Ami her berth in the Maharashtra team. She is disappointed she could not provide an encore during the Nationals semi-final at Pondicherry. ``We trailed Tamil Nadu 47-52, and I scored five points to level the match. But we missed a few baskets and Tamil Nadu won 55-52.''

She owes her success to her coach. ``Sukhi sir taught us to think while we are playing. He always discussed thegame after practice, and made adjustments in my style due to my lack of height.''

Her achievements obviously stem from a desire to be the best. But achievers, as a breed, are nauseatingly correct. They are often self-centred, holier-than-thou. If you ask them to cut classes, they are certain to give you glassy looks. They love college; and teachers, in turn, love them. Ami is refreshingly different. Few of her lecturers at RA Podar, Matunga, would have the courage to positively identify her from a line-up, under oath; fewer would expect the college Rose Queen, and a sportswoman, to top the merit list.

Ami herself did not anticipate it. ``In the morning I asked my brother Prashant, will I get a distinction?'' Now, Prashant is busy answering congratulatory phone calls. ``Both my parents and I have been reduced to secretaries,'' the IIT MTech student jokes. Parents Vinoo and Ramila join in the banter. ``Parents of boys in our Kutchi community have been calling up asking for her hand,'' Vinoo teases hisdaughter, who has often disappointed moon-eyed boys propositioning her in college.

Till yesterday Ami Momaya was merely a student. Today, she is also an ambassador for basketball. She is more concerned about the drop in basketball enrollments in her school than the drop in educational standards. Her school sports director Virender Singh hopes she will be an example for other students.