A change in style of play and rigorous training schedule helped Reeth Rishya of MVM-Ransa Table Tennis Academy bag the National Junior TT girls crown. If one looks at any sport today, be it cricket, tennis, badminton, aggression and powerplay is the key for success. There is little place for a 'touch' artist.
Reeth Rishya, who has been training under Ravi Venkatesh (chief coach of MVMRansa), did her State and club proud by winning the junior title at Ahmedabad recently.
A lot of hardwork, regular practice, a strong mind and burning desire to achieve has helped Reeth make tremendous progress in her sport. “Reeth is a hardworking and dedicated player.
When she joined our club a year ago we found her lagging a bit in aggression. Plus her backhand too was not that effective. Once she worked on these areas her game has improved,'' said Venkatesh, who is also the state coach. “She was in her element in the Junior Nationals.
Reeth has an excellent forehand and now with an improved backhand and lot more aggression in her game she easily wore down her opponents. She has a promising future,'' said Venkatesh on her National Junior title triumph. The academy gives Reeth three hours of training five days a week.
Plus a round of fitness and yoga. The academy also makes it a point to provide all its trainees exposure by way of participation in many tournaments.
The Tamil Nadu Table Tennis Association and its affiliated district units conduct 12 to 13 state ranking tournaments in a year. The seeding system is followed and most of the top players participate regularly to finetune their game. “The TNTTA conducts 12-13 tournaments a year. This helps all the children to get valuable match practise before taking part in any national or international meet. I believe these tournaments mentally prepares a player to take up bigger challenges. When you are exposed to quality tournaments day in and day out, naturally your game is bound to improve. Reeth is a product of this system,'' opined Venkatesh.
The club has signed a MoU with M/s Buildcraft/ Herman Miller Interior (P) Ltd wherein the sponsors would give `1 lakh every year for three years. The money is being used to provide kit and air conditioned train fare travel for the players to take part in tournaments.
Added to that as an incentive for the players who excelled and represented the State in n a t i o n a l events a gold ring is also being presented from this fund.
" Sponsors have helped us go about our programme without any hitch. For more children to take up any sport comfort while travelling and playing, plus having job opportunities is a necessary pre-requisite. Luckily this generation is better off than the previous ones,'' said Venkatesh.
Venkatesh makes a special mention about Namasivayam, principal of MVM school who has waved the rent and electricity charges for the academy in order to help the coaches and children concentrate on the game without any worry.