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Learning the ropes
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The recently concluded matches at the Pioneer Tennis Academy revealed a few young and talented players
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TENNIS TIME Participants and winners of the Pioneer Tennis Academy's tourney
A few talented young kids had a chance to display their prowess in the Pioneer Tennis Academy's open tennis tournament 2005 held at the academy's courts in Mettuguda recently. Among those who caught the eye was Sourabh Sachdeva, who bagged a triple crown by winning the boys under-14 singles title and the doubles titles in the under-12 and 18 years categories partnering Rohit Sarwate.
Young B. Supreeth also put up a good show when he bagged a double win and won the under-10 and the under-12 singles. In the under-10 final, Supreeth defeated Leela Krishna 8-4, and in the under-12 final he defeated B. Ajay 8-3.
Since it was started about nine years ago, the Pioneer Tennis Academy has been providing training for children between the ages of eight to 16 and has also been conducting tournaments that help the trainees gain a competitive edge in their game from an early age.
According to Khaja Moinuddin, the 42-year-old chief coach who has been coaching since 1992, the majority of the children reside in nearby areas such as Mettuguda, Tarnaka and Seethapalmandi and quite a few also come from Durgabhai Deshmukh colony. For training purposes they are divided into two categories - the very young beginners and the slightly older children. The young group are taught the fundamentals of the game such as the right way to grip the racket, the backswing and the follow through. The older group is given slightly advanced coaching that includes fitness drills and are taught the correct execution of forehand and backhand shots as well as match tactics.
"They are taught how to spot an opponent's weakness or minimise his or her strong points. Other training details include how to deal with a serve and volley specialist, what to do against a steady baseliner, how to impart topspin and other technical aspects. During the matches that are conducted, it is nice to see the enthusiasm and spirit that these children display," says Moinuddin.
"In tennis, as in every other sport, it is important to start early so that the basics are mastered quickly and progress is made at a more rapid rate. Modern sports are all about physical and mental fitness. A young player should be ready to challenge the seniors by the time he or she reaches his teens," feels the coach.
The academy had in its ranks some state and national level players and the coach is hopeful that from the current crop, a few more will make it to the top ranks in the state and country.
ABHIJIT SEN GUPTA
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