The reality of getting a chance to represent her country on sport’s biggest stage is yet to sink in for tennis player Ankita Raina.

“To be in the Olympics is what I trained for every day. It was a dream which now is a reality. I still have to pinch myself at times,” the 28-year-old says as she gets ready to depart for Japan.

“There were some tough times, obstacles and losses. I cannot forget the sacrifices made by my family and the backing and belief of all my coaches, especially Hemant (Bendrey) sir,” an emotional Raina said.

Raina and Sania Mirza, her doubles partner at the Tokyo Olympics, were to leave for Japan on Monday.

The duo were practising in Hyderabad since returning to India from Wimbledon.

While Mirza is a multiple Grand Slam champion, Raina is still looking for her breakthrough at the top of women’s game. Yet, the Pune girl was confident she would be able to hold her own against the best in Tokyo.

“Not to let my nation down will be the biggest pressure,” she said. “But I have always played well when I have donned the India colours. I am ready for the challenge.”

Winning her maiden WTA doubles title in Australia earlier this year must stand her in good stead.

“It gave me a sense that I can compete at this level and perform. For me, I don’t play against any opponents, I play the ball. That’s how I look at it.”

The popular opinion might be that India’s best medal chance was in mixed doubles.

But Bendrey believed one would be dismissing the pairing of Raina and Mirza at their own peril.

“The level at the Olympics is definitely going to be higher. But I have also seen that Ankita and Sania can bring up their level when playing for India,” he said. “They can make a very strong pair. Ankita is solid on the ad court and Sania is the best deuce court player in the game.”

For the non-believers, Bendrey pointed out that Raina has a doubles title to her name at every level in the game.

“From the ad court, she can overpower the best of opponents,” he said.

The tennis competition at the Olympics kicks off on July 24 and culminates on August 1. It will have the same balls used for Australian Open and the surface similar to the one used at the US Open.

“The balls will be a bit heavier and the courts on the faster side,” Bendrey said.

It is clear that the bubble environment at Wimbledon saw the Indian players spend more time together than usual and the positive vibes seems to be extending beyond for Raina, who made her main draw debut at the grass-court major as she featured in doubles.

The mixed doubles pairing with Ramkumar Ramanathan in London came as a strawberry in the cream.

“Actually Rohan (Bopanna) and Sania advised us to sign in for mixed doubles as the draw was bigger,” Raina said.

As it turned out, the two Indian teams were drawn against each other in the first round with the experienced combination prevailing.

Bendrey took the help of Vijay Sundar Prashanth, who now lives in the UK, to arrange for some valuable practice sessions at a local club during their stay in London.

“There were separate sessions for singles and doubles, but the focus was on her game on the ad court with doubles in mind. But it will also help her singles game,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)