Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Spin right to win

Laying emphasis on the right beginning, Ajay Kumar familiarised kids with the nuances of table tennis, reports J. R. SHRIDHARAN

PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR

CATCH `EM YOUNG Teaching the nuances at an early age pays up.

The visit of Hyderabad-based national table tennis player D. Ajay Kumar came as a God-sent boon for young paddlers of the city. The lanky southpaw, who represented Andhra Pradesh's senior team in several nationals, was in city for a week to fine-tune the skills of the paddlers.

Paddlers practising in Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium, Makeneni Basavapunniah stadium, Patamata indoor stadium and K.B.N College made use of the veteran's presence by sweating it out in the mornings and evenings at Satyam memorial table tennis hall.

A member of the technical committee of Andhra Pradesh Table Tennis Association, Ajay Kumar says: "My primary object is to observe and correct their positions. I also make them realise the importance of serve, drives (both forehand and backhand), spin and service receiving."

Enlightening interaction

He says that spin plays a vital role in table tennis. The composition of the rubber and the combination of sponge and rubber is designed to maximize the amount of spin and speed a player can impart to the ball. "Now that the game is played for 11 points, it is all the more important for the player to get a right start. He or she should also be dexterous in churning out a variety of serves with more emphasis on spin. Equal concentration should be on controlling the ball while executing the topspin drives, " he discloses. Mr. Kumar also conducted fitness classes in the mornings. Players like Mrudhula, Saira Banu, Praneeth, Feroz and many others interacted with the veteran and rectified their follies.

Says Feroz, who practices at Singhnagar stadium: "I learnt about various kinds of spin, such as top spin and side spin and I shall be adding these ingredients into my armour." Krishna District Table Tennis Association secretary B. Uday Kumar says that many such specialised camps, involving senior players would be conducted to hone the talent of the younger lot.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail