With Euro 2012 looming large over the sporting horizon, it is easy to forget that the French Open is inching closer to its grand finale at Roland Garros. However, as Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi lifted the mixed doubles crown in Paris, Kochiites are discussing tennis too.
Sharing his views with City Express, Kerala’s number one Rynold Timothy said, “It’s really a great news. Only good can come of it. More and more kids will start picking up the rackets and since there’s Sania too, it will inspire more girls to do the same.”
Former under-16 state champion, Aditya Bhatt said, “I think it’s a great achievement. Eight mixed double’s grand slam titles is a phenomenal achievement by Bhupathi. It goes to show that Indians are not incapable of playing tennis at the highest level.” If you thought that tennis is not that popular in Kerala, K Shankar, the director of Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academy at the Regional Sports Centre, had a different story to tell. “Many are interested in Tennis here. Currently, we have 130 children training here as part of our coaching programme, with 30 more in the waiting list. It would be impossible to accommodate all of them on the four courts we have,” he said. Mahesh Bhupathi’s associate in tennis promotion programmes in the country Shankar revealed, “I saw the whole match yesterday and even sent him a text message congratulating him. He texted back his thanks with a smiley!”
Though it is the exploits of the likes of Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes and Sania Mirza that have given the youngsters the confidence to take up the game professionally. Overseas superstars too have admirers. Eleven-year old Tanvi Bhatt, a promising talent ranked 9th in the under-12 category nationally, says, “My idol is Rafael Nadal. I even wanted to play left-handed like him but I had to settle for my right hand.” Players like Tanvi prove that the efforts of India’s tennis icons have not been in vain.