Instead of avoiding tougher competition, Hazarika deliberately entered stronger divisions, even when it meant enduring a string of losses. “I kept playing bigger tournaments. I played the Grand Slam in December, then several tournaments in Kolkata because it is close to home, and later the Indian Open in Hyderabad. I started winning medals in intermediate categories, but at the same time I kept entering advanced and pro divisions. I lost a lot of matches there, but those losses helped me grow as a player,” she said.
