HYDERABAD: The success of Sania Mirza has seen a rise in tennis coaching camps since the last five years.
Every parent dreams of their ward evolving into an international tennis player. As a result, any child who is a budding tennis player is under immediate pressure. Says Vasudeva Reddy, former national champion and member of the Davis Cup team: “It is true. Sania is a role model. She is a big influence on young tennis players in the city.
Parents have realised that tennis can actually be a career for their children. In a way it is leading young people to enter the sport.
There is renewed awareness about the game. At the same time, sometimes parents are hasty and overtly anxious. They push their children too much which results in kids losing interest in the game.” Vasudeva, along with S Narendra Nath, the former National hard court winner, who are coaching at NVK Tennis Academy at Izzathnagar, near Madhapur, feel that there should be better understanding between the coach, parent and the child. “It needs systematic planning. We should realise that facilities in the city have improved tremendously in the last few years. We have seen plenty of tennis camps coming up. It is a good sign. But there is little planning in promoting and nurturing talent,” he said.
According to Vasudeva, children should enjoy the game or atmosphere from the age of five till they are 12. “It is where the basics are taught and a strong foundation for a career is made. One should always remember that a child begins to develop seriousness about the game from the age 14 to 17. That is where the coaches play a big role by emphasising on fitness, strength and the game,” said Vasudeva.
Narendra Nath, thinks the parents have to be patient. “Great players did not achieve success overnight. It was careful planning and hard work. It is important to have a sports culture,” said Narendra Nath.
For these two former national players, coaching young children at NVK Tennis Academy, is enjoyable and challenging. “It was not easy to build a tennis academy. We had to run from pillar to post for a land but thanks to V Koti Reddy, who showed interest in promoting the sport, we have been able to run an academy now. In fact, even while laying the eight tennis courts (four clay court and four synthetic), it needed a lot of running around. We finally got help through people like GVK and MC consultants,” he said.
The academy has 20 coaching staff. “We are looking to modern training. The emphasis is on fitness and the game,” said Vasudeva.
T he academy has ITF ranking players like Alla Srekar, Alla Abishek, Sheikh Abdulla and Gunaganti Janaki. Apart from that, some sub-junior talent like Gunaganti Sruthakerti, Aproop Reddy, Raveena Reddy, Raveena Reddy, Sheikh Osama, Tarunath, Ajit Pandya, Sai Nikhil, Nayanika Reddy and Alla Mrinalini, who have been performing well in subjunior tournaments, are training at this centre.